The Bureau of Friends Head West
After a 3-day Bureau of Friends retreat in Stinson Beach, California, we held our first event: An invitation-only evening at HEATH Ceramics studio in nearby Sausalito. We gathered a small group of people for a little wine and conversation around “Making and Meaning” while everyone present made their own Alabama Chanin/HEATH inspired piece. Individual creations will be stitched together by the talented people at Alabama Chanin to form an artifact of our shared time together.
For the Friends, this was a successful experiment in engaging people in a more meaningful way on issues of shared importance to us. We’ll do it again soon in LA and in NYC.
Here are a few quotes and some photos to help tell the story of our first event at HEATH:
Yves Behar, industrial designer, fuseproject: ”I’m not quite sure what Bureau of Friends is yet, but whatever it becomes, it’ll be interesting and fun.”
Lee Cerre, blogger/founder of our favorite blog 2or3things: “The night was beautifully conducted, and I left feeling inspired, fulfilled. I’m still thinking about Alabama’s lesson. The words she used, the tone of her voice and the gentle attention to her craft. It made me so happy.”
Zem Joaquin, ecofabulous: ”This was great. I get it.I totally get it.”
Cameron Sinclair, eternal optimist and founder, Architecture for Humanity: “The evening brought up great memories of when I used to live with my grandmother. She was the head costume designer for Sadlers Wells and worked until her 90’s on set and costume design. We would talk about art, music and theater as she sewed. I’m sure she would have been proud of our effort at Heath. Will love seeing what happens next with the Bureau.”
Jeff Mendelsohn, CEO New Leaf Paper: “I was so engrossed in what I was doing and in our conversation, that I didn’t want to stop for dinner.”
Marsha Guerrero, Chez Panisse Foundation/Edible Schoolyard, carefully chooses her Heath beads.
Stinson Beach inspired, Natalie Chanin and Cathy Bailey collaboration.
Beach colored HEATH Beads.
In addition to Bureau Friends, Julie Gilhart, Natalie Chanin, Cathy Bailey, Nicole Mackinlay Hahn and Maria Moyer, our guests at HEATH, included:
Roman Alonso, partner, Commune Design and co-founder, Grey Bull Press
Yves Behar, industrial designer/founder, fuseproject
Adam Brodsley, designer and partner, Volume Inc.
Lee Cerre, set designer, stylist, and blogger of 2or3things
Donald Fortesque, furniture program chair/professor, California College of the Arts
Michael Goldin, designer/CEO, Swerve
Marsha Guerrero, director, Chez Panisse Foundation and Edible Schoolyard
Zem Joaquin, founder/CEO, ecofabulous
Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva, Peabody Award Winning Producers, Kitchen Sisters
Jeff Mendelsohn, CEO New Leaf Paper
Kendra Oveson, Williams-Sonoma Home
Robin Petravic, co-owner/managing director, HEATH
Cameron Sinclair, founder, Architecture for Humanity
We would like to thank Lisa Rostoker for being so helpful, and all of our guests for participating in this wonderful evening.
Introducing: Alabama Chanin, CFDA/Vogue Fund Finalist and Bureau Friend
We’re so proud of Bureau Friend, Natalie Chanin, we’d like you to meet her. Here’s a fine introduction in the form of a just-published Vogue Magazine interview with our Natalie, written by Florence Kane for Vogue:
Now that this year’s ten CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalists have been announced, we thought it’d be fun to let you in on who they are behind the seams––from what’s playing on their iPods (Emmylou Harris, Fugazi, Animal Collective), to what they like to do on their downtime (darts anyone?), and what their hidden talents are. Starting with…
Alabama Chanin, Natalie Chanin
Where are you from? I was born and raised in Florence, Alabama, went to high school in Chattanooga, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina, for college, and moved to New York City after graduating. But I always say that I “grew up” in Vienna, where I lived from 1990 to 2000. Looking back, those days feel like playtime. And now I’ve come full circle, living four blocks from my childhood home in Florence. It’s lovely.
Whom did you train with or work for before starting your own collection? I worked in the junior-sportswear industry in New York City just after graduating from university. Afterward, I spent ten years as a freelance stylist in Europe before starting to design for my own company. Working as a stylist provided the great luxury of playing with materials, colors, shape, and fit. What I learned about style in those years, I equate to a graduate degree in design. I am the designer I am today because of those years of culture, play, and exploration. Think Vienna in the nineties: Kruder & Dorfmeister, Helmut Lang, and an amazing array of young, talented, and amazing folks.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself. Few people know—or remember—that I was on the dive team in high school, and I am still fond of leaping from high and dangerous spots.
Where were you when you got the call that you were a Fashion Fund finalist? I was sitting at my table in the studio. I remember the call so clearly. CFDA’s Steven Kolb called and said, “Natalie, congratulations. You have been chosen as one of the ten Fashion Fund finalists.” You know, I am Southern and a storyteller at heart. I can wax hours with tales and am never at a loss for words. Yet, when that call came through, I couldn’t think of anything at all to say. Nothing. I told a friend later that Steven must have thought that I was crazy.
What’s your hidden talent? The hidden talent that I use most often is my innate sense of order, coupled with a great desire to surround myself with beauty and peace. That is the entrepreneur and designer in me. But my true hidden talent is the uncanny ability to play a wicked game of gin rummy.
Where were you educated? I studied environmental design at North Carolina State University with a double major in textile and design. That program today is called the Anni Albers l.c. c, curriculum, named after the Bauhaus designer and Josef Albers’s wife. It was a fantastic education, as I shared studios with architects, product designers, landscape architects, et al. We were allowed to stretch our wings and pursue our greatest interests within a curriculum of design theory. I loved it then and love it now.
Who’s your favorite designer? I am attracted to many diverse designers—both living and deceased. I admire Christian Dior for his silhouettes, shapes, and attention to detail; I revere Claire McCardell for making the practical fashionable; I am inspired by Dries Van Noten and his playfulness with color, textur,e and layers; I love Ann Demeulemeester’s deconstructed silhouettes. These are a few—among many—that I hold in high regard.
What’s playing in your studio? This summer, as we design and produce the spring/summer 2010 collection, we have been listening to Patty Griffin, Gillian Welch, Vashti Bunyan, Sean Hayes, Emmylou Harris, and a load of others.
Where’s your favorite place to take a break? When I have coveted time away from work, you will always find me with my daughter, Maggie, who just turned three. We can spend hours in our small backyard garden, at the neighborhood park, or concocting new recipes in the kitchen.
(link to Vogue article: http://preview.tinyurl.com/mc9q2w)
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Alabama Chanin products are made by hand using a combination of organic and recycled fabric. Each piece is constructed with care by talented artisans who are skilled in Depression-era stiching traditions and they live and work in communities in and around Florence, Alabama.
All items are numbered in one-of-a-kind or limited edition series and signed by the artisan that made it. From farmer to fiber to artisan to home, Alabama Chanin products are “grown-to-sewn” in the USA.
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