Born of needle and thread in Florence, Alabama, luxury label Alabama Chanin has become a global voice in slow fashion, handcraft, and sustainable design. Its influence may be far-reaching, but its identity is unwaveringly Southern. This fall, the brand’s local presence will grow more personal, with a new office opening above basic., the downtown boutique that first brought Alabama Chanin to Magic City shoppers.
That new office will be shared with Director Jessica Turner, who began on the patternmaking and design floor of Vera Wang and left New York to return to the South. Based in Birmingham, she frequently commutes to the company’s original studio in Florence and travels to fashion capitals like Paris. From her new space above the shop, she’ll oversee the brand’s culture and storytelling—and, on occasion, welcome clients for one-on-one consultations, offering a unique opportunity to connect to the world of Alabama Chanin.
Each collection blends structure and softness in a way that feels both grounded and refined. Made from 100% organic cotton jersey, each piece is hand-cut and stitched in Florence using techniques like appliqué, reverse quilting, and embroidery. The silhouettes are timeless—lean dresses, sculptural coats, tunics with unexpected details—designed to layer, last, and live beautifully.
The connection between Alabama Chanin and basic. began when boutique founder Lacey Woodroof discovered the brand through a fashion podcast and felt an immediate pull.
“When I started learning about the human and environmental costs of much of the garment industry more than a decade ago, I happened upon a podcast episode out of Australia whose special guest was a designer and maker in Florence, Alabama named Natalie Chanin,” she says. “That interview was all I needed to hear. I’m still incredibly proud that Alabama Chanin calls the heart of the South home.”
Their partnership runs deeper than style. It’s built on a shared vision for what fashion can be and how it should exist in the world.
“There’s a natural crossover in our client bases because of the shared ethos behind both brands,” says Lacey. “As companies, Alabama Chanin and basic. both value people, planet, and craft above all else. It’s more difficult to do business in a way that honors work and workers, but it matters. And it’s rewarding to build community alongside other folks—especially as talented as they are—moving in a similar way.”
That same intention has guided Alabama Chanin since founder Natalie Chanin stitched the brand’s first garment more than two decades ago.
“From the beginning, the work has been about more than garments,” Natalie says. “It’s been about preserving culture through making, the dignity of handwork, and the possibility that a small community in northwest Alabama could shape a broader conversation.”
That conversation reached a new milestone last year, when Alabama Chanin transitioned into a nonprofit organization.
“Becoming a nonprofit was a natural evolution,” Natalie explains. “It reflects what we’ve always believed: that the act of making is deeply connected to education, sustainability, and the stories that bind us.”
Jessica echoes the importance of that shift.
“It has given us the opportunity to redefine the work we’ve been doing for decades—to frame it not just as a business, but as a mission with lasting social and cultural value,” she says. “To reach our future goals, we needed more than structure—we needed shared ownership in the vision. This shift has allowed us to invest more deeply in education, preservation, and the long-term good of our community and craft.”
One of the most visible expressions of that mission is Project Threadways, the brand’s archival and research initiative exploring the history of textiles and the lives of those who made them. It’s part of a broader commitment to honoring process.
“The work is slow—and that’s by design,” Natalie says. “In a world focused on speed and scale, we often overlook the beauty and discipline of process. Every garment carries the memory of the hands that made it. The care we take is intentional. It’s not just about what’s made—it’s about how, and why.”
Jessica sees this next chapter as an opportunity to bring that process and its purpose even more fully into view.
“So much of what happens in the fashion industry is invisible,” she says. “We want to change that—to invite people into the process, to show how things are made, and to celebrate the hands behind the work. Our next chapter is about creating spaces that reflect our values, where people can learn, witness, and take part in something lasting.”
She adds, “We’ve always believed that fashion could be a vehicle for something more—something rooted in story, in place, and in the hands that make it. Today, that vision feels more clear and connected. There’s real momentum, not only around what we create, but how we create it—with thoughtfulness, collaboration, slowness, and intention. That depth of purpose is what continues to energize the work.”
While Florence is home, “Alabama is our canvas,” Natalie explains, and Birmingham’s role in this story continues to grow.
“Birmingham holds a vital role in our state’s creative and cultural economy. It’s a city of history, resilience, reinvention,” she says. “Having a presence here allows us to stay rooted in our values while expanding our vision. It gives us the chance to collaborate in new ways, to meet people where they are, and to be part of a larger conversation about the future of craft, fashion, and community-building.”
That invitation is open to all.
“You don’t need to be a designer or artisan to be part of this story,” Natalie says. “Whether you’re cooking, planting a garden, repairing a piece of clothing, or investing in community resilience—you’re engaging in cultural preservation. We hope to be part of that ongoing dialogue. At its best, our work isn’t just about craft. It’s about connection.”
Alabama Chanin’s garments—and the stories stitched into them—are crafted to last.
"Birmingham holds a vital role in our state’s creative and cultural economy—it’s a city of history, resilience, reinvention. Having a presence here allows us to stay rooted in our values while expanding our vision."