For many of us, September 11th, 2001, is a time stamp—a threshold of before or after. I have children and grandchildren who were born into a post-9/11 world. They will never have a before, but they hear the stories told by us, watch the chilling documentaries, and see the heavy news coverage each year on its anniversary. Stories help us heal. They connect us to one another. They are a patchwork of humanity. And those of us who are of age to recollect have a story. We can remember where we were and what we were doing before news of...
Recordings of the 2026 Project Threadways Symposium are now available. Purchase here to receive a link in your inbox, including presentations from COMOCO’s Stephen Satterfield, textile artist Shradha Kochhar, fashion designer Marwan Pleasant, and many more. Poet Jason McCall kicked off the symposium with original verse inspired by our theme of Regeneration.It is an honor to share it with all of you. A Season to Draw. A Season to Measure. A Season to Cut.by Jason McCall When the weather turns, there’s always my wife needing me to feel the edge of a sleeve or pair of pants. She wants to know if my hands know anythingabout thickness, the choicescommunicated...
As Interim Director of the Center for the Study of the American South at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Dr. Marcie Cohen Ferris guides a hub for interdisciplinary research, publication, and teaching about our region. CSAS explores the Southern experience by publishing and preserving the voices that shape its evolving story. Born and raised in northeastern Arkansas, Ferris has studied, documented, interpreted, exhibited, taught, and written about the South for more than forty years. Her research focuses on foodways, material culture, and the Southern Jewish experience. She is the author of The Edible South and Matzoh Ball Gumbo and, most recently, edited...
Gratitude. This past week, guests from near and far gathered in The Factory for the 2026 Project Threadways Symposium, three days of meals, presentations, conversations, and hands-on making connected by the theme of Regeneration. The theme reflects the core values of this community: slowness as care, sustainability as origin, and education as liberation. Regeneration reckons with the harms of industrialized and extractive systems, offering repair through circularity, agency, and authorship. Deepest thanks to all who made it possible to gather, dine, explore, and engage: Presenters, who shared their work, stories, and reflections: Jason McCallMarcie Cohen FerrisStephen SatterfieldPolly...
"This is the work of many hands."— Natalie Chanin With access to rapidly-produced goods at our fingertips, the domestic arts are becoming lost in the hustle, and fashion is becoming disposable. We're offering a different way. Alabama Chanin believes in slow, thoughtful design that uses sustainable materials and hand-craft to create garments unparalleled in both beauty and quality. Read more about our organic fabric, supply chain, and artisan process below. To hear from artisans firsthand, watch our short videos featuring Luda and Corey from the production team. Explore the Collection. Organic cotton is grown using natural biological cycles and without...
With a shared color palette and thoughtfully designed silhouettes, it's easy to style pieces in Collection #72. No mistakes possible. Explore a highlight of pairings below, and reach out to studio@projectthreadways.org for styling assistance. Free virtual appointments are available. P.S.: Post your own Alabama Chanin outfits on Instagram and tag @alabamachanin to share with us. The Look: Layered The Pieces:The Evans Jacket, Orson Pant, and Zero Waste Waffle Wrap Cardigan. The Look: Textured The Pieces:The Silva Jacket, Cairn Tunic, and Lynx Skirt. The Look: Tailored The Pieces:The Ferox Top, Rune Jacket, and Claude Pant. The Look: Breezy The Pieces:The Prentiss Coverup, Claude Capri Pant, and Scarf in the slim featherweight option....
In early April, Project Threadways gathered local community leaders in the Shoals to celebrate the beginning of construction at The Maker Lab, a new organizational headquarters, artisan studio, and community space in downtown Florence. First step: a roof, just completed this week. This work is the result of a year-long capital campaign, which met a Phase One fundraising goal of $2.8 million in 2025. We are deeply grateful to the public agencies, private foundations, and individual donors who make this future possible, and those partners and collaborators who champion Project Threadways’ mission. This moment also marks the beginning of Phase...
The Collection. Now in Birmingham. Alabama Chanin is now available for shopping in Birmingham, Alabama, thanks to the generosity of basic. and their 2202 Community Showroom. Collection #71 and Collection #72 are presented in person, with garments defined by hand painting and construction, organic cotton, and enduring silhouettes. Private appointments for custom orders are now available, offering time to explore swatches, fit, and made-to-order pieces. Contact studio@projectthreadways.org to learn more. The School of Making now at 2214 basic. At 2214 basic., The School of Making is now available for shopping, including organic cotton fabrics, sewing kits, and maker supplies. These are the tools...
The Tunica Operis(latin: Work Shirt) A collaboration grounded in shared values, E.M. Reitz and Alabama Chanin come together in a shirt defined by proportion, fabrication, and construction. Erin’s understated, thoughtful approach meets our commitment to craftsmanship—resulting in a silhouette that feels both timeless and modern. Explore the Collaboration. The Details Rendered in deep navy and soft green, the shirt is constructed with precision and ease. Thoughtful pleating, clean lines, and high quality materials support movement and longevity. Styled with hand painted garments from the Alabama Chanin collection, the silhouette brings balance to the broader palette. Shop the Tunica Operis in NavyShop the...
Tea-dyed in our studio, this color develops through a slow, layered process using organic cotton and natural tea baths. Each garment absorbs the dye differently, revealing subtle variation and quiet movement across the surface. The effect is a warm, lived-in neutral with depth and softness—familiar, yet entirely one of a kind. Discover tea-dyed garments in Collection #72. A Natural Neutral This season, the tea-dyed palette appears across silhouettes including the Clover Top, relaxed dresses, structured layers, and hand-painted pieces that build dimension within a single tone. Worn together or styled apart, these create a neutral with depth and presence. Grounded....
