In 2009, the Songbirds collection is designed and shown in New York City the following year. Inspired by American Folk Singers, the collection features female vocalists and musicians from across the country.
The Archives — 2009
At the invitation of Michelle Obama, Alabama Chanin creates the tree skirt for the Obama White House Blue Room Christmas tree. The design theme chosen for the year is “Reflect, Rejoice, Renew,” highlighting the Administration’s desire to conserve and recycle. The skirt is crafted in white and shades of blue, using the Magdalena stencil with quilting, appliqué, reverse appliqué, and hand beading. In total, the skirt is constructed from 13 large panels (symbolizing the 13 original colonies) by 22 artisans who volunteer their time. The skirt contains over 4 pounds of glass beads, measures 14’ in diameter, weighs approximately 58...
Alabama Chanin participates as a featured designer in the American Craft Council’s 2009 conference, Creating a New Craft Culture. The conference aims to examine what lies at the core of being a maker through analysis of themes that study how craft interacts with the individual maker, community, and marketplace as a whole. Natalie’s exhibition and written entry is entitled “The Marketplace and the Personal: A Story of Thread.” “This thread is going to sew the most beautiful garment that’s ever been made. The person who wears it, it will bring them joy or peace or love or warmth or happiness...
Natalie meets Gary Graham in 2009 when they are both finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Following the Los Angeles fashion show at Chateau Marmont, Natalie and Gary bond on the balcony of Thomas Keller’s Bouchon restaurant. From Gary: "I remember being on the balcony of Thomas Keller's Bouchon restaurant in L.A., with Natalie back in 2009 as part of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists; it was a very glamorous setting. We were alone, and she said to me, "I don't think they are really that interested in what I'm doing.” At the time, I was struck by how...
Named, for a second time, as one of ten finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, Natalie and Alabama Chanin compete alongside Flora Gill and Alexa Adams of Ohne Titel, Patrik Ervell, Sophie Theallet, Waris Ahluwalia of House of Waris, Wayne Lee of Wayne, George Esquivel of Esquivel Shoes, Gary Graham, Monique Péan, and Simon Spurr of Spurr for the final prize of the 2009 competition. Peter Stanglmayr's photograph of Natalie with her young daughter, Maggie, appears in an interview with Florence Kane of Vogue in a series profiling the 2009 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists. Our friend and collaborator Sara Martin gifts Natalie a...
Alabama Chanin creates a limited collection of “Alabama Denim,” indigo dyed in the basement of a church in Brooklyn by Goods of Conscience. Founded by priest Father Andrew O’Connor, the non-profit organization seeks to offer economic stability and further enrich the lives of weavers in Guatemala. The cotton fabric is colored using natural indigo-dyeing processes. All garments bear a “disclaimer”: “The color blue will rub from the fabric and slightly color the skin of the wearer. In many cultures, this process of coloring was considered a blessing of the body.” Learn more about Goods of Conscience and follow along @goodsofconscience. ...
Alabama Chanin shows garments from their 2008 and 2009 collections in the Pratt Institute’s Ethics + Aesthetics = Sustainable Fashion exhibition. Curated by Francesca Granata and Sarah Scaturro, the exhibition examines the relationship between fashion and sustainability, serving as a call-to-action. Alabama Chanin is featured alongside innovative designers and artists including Bodkin, Susan Cianciolo, Kelly Cobb, Loomstate, Suno, Zoë Sheehan Saldaña, Sans, Slow and Steady Wins the Race, Uluru, Andrea Zittel, and Tiprin Follett. In the exhibition catalogue’s forward, Julie Gilhart of Barneys New York writes: “Ethics + Aesthetics effectively broadens the reach of sustainable fashion, showing the visitor that...