In 2001, on a cold December Friday, Steven Smith shows up at the Project Alabama production office at Lovelace Crossroads.
The Archives — 2001
In the fall of 2002, Lola Schnabel, an artist and friend to Natalie’s partner Enrico, travels to The Shoals, and Lovelace Crossroads to collaborate on a collection of one-of-a-kind shirts in what would become the first of many collaborations between artists, designers, photographers, and the artisan stitchers of Alabama. Lola’s drawings and collages are applied directly to individual tops and interpreted with hand-embroidery and embellishment in collaboration with local artisans. This trip and the subsequent collection lead to many other collaborations over the years. These diverse partnerships expand opportunities and offer new spaces for creativity across disciplines and geographies. On...
At the Chelsea Hotel show, orders are taken from a handful of stores around the world that include stores like Barneys NY, Barneys Tokyo, Fred Segal/Ron Herman LA, and Browns in London. Natalie returns to Lovelace Crossroads, and with a team of artisans, patternmakers, friends, and family produces the first round of shirts to be delivered in the late spring and summer. Slide 1: Early hand-sewn “Sister Shirt” from the Alabama collection, 2001, photograph by Natalie Chanin Slide 2: Alabama collection catalog cover, featuring a photo by Natalie Chanin entitled “From the Back Door,” 2001, photograph by Robert Rausch...
Lionel Roudaut, a patternmaker and cutter, formerly with Jeremy Scott in Paris, arrives in Alabama to help with pattern development and production. Over the course of the summer, Natalie and Lionel design and develop the Corset. This pattern and style of dressing becomes one of the defining garment patterns of Project Alabama, Alabama Chanin, and, eventually, The School of Making. From Lionel: When I arrived the first time in Florence Alabama, I felt I was catapulted into a Tom Sawyer novel. The look of the place was just as I'd imagined it, reading or watching about this region of...
What began as a one-off project becomes a business as the third collection of designs is prepared and presented in a suite at the Chelsea Hotel. Then, the horrific events of September 11th unfold and forever change America
At the Chelsea Hotel show, orders are taken from a handful of stores around the world that include stores like Barneys NY, Barneys Tokyo, Fred Segal/Ron Herman LA, and Browns in London.
Sally Singer and Natalie meet for the first time in 2001, when both are living at the Chelsea Hotel. A decade after their first meeting, Sally gives Natalie the most beloved compliment of her career.
Julie Gilhart and Natalie meet for the first time in 2001, shortly after Barneys New York becomes the first stockist for the new t-shirt collection. Over the years, they share many meetings, conversations, and adventures.
A first showing of the 200 one-of-a-kind t-shirts is planned for the Chelsea Hotel as part of New York City Fashion Week, February 2001.