The next chapter in the event series, Crafted by Southern Hands, will bring fashion designer Natalie Chanin and her Alabama Chanin design team to Chattanooga July 25 through 27. Starting this month, Warehouse Row will host an exhibition of Chanin’s collection of barbecue-smoked, couture wedding dresses with corresponding reception, trunk show and sewing workshop, under the guidance of Chanin herself.
As founder and creative director of this American fashion line, Chanin’s work has been lauded in national publications such as Vogue, Time, The New York Times and Town & Country. A member of the invitation-only Council of Fashion Designers of America, Chanin was named a 2009 CFDA and Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist, and was selected for the 2010 Global Triennial exhibition, Why Design Now? by the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum in New York.
“There is a Southern charm to Natalie Chanin’s handmade couture,” said George Krauth, vice president of Jamestown. “The one-of-a-kind creations are not only exquisitely beautiful, but the quilt-stitched detail is a testament to her Alabama roots. Crafted by Southern Hands celebrates that unique artistry.”
Chanin’s hand-sewn dresses were pit-smoked at Jim ‘N Nicks Bar-B-Q for the 15th annual Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium in Oxford, Miss., titled, Barbecue: An Exploration of Pitmasters, Places, Smoke and Sauce. Soon to be on display at Warehouse Row until late August, the dresses have yet to be exhibited anywhere other than the symposium.
“While growing up in Chattanooga, I never imagined I would return one day for a show of barbequed dresses,” said Chanin.
Guests attending the opening reception on July 25 will be treated to a first peek of the hand-embroidered, organic garments that have been hickory smoked to perfection. From 6 to 8 p.m., Crafted by Southern Hands is throwing a proper that will feature Jack Rudy cocktails, beer and Jim ‘N Nicks Bar-B-Q.
On Friday, July 26 from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and on Saturday, July 27 from noon until 4 p.m., Alabama Chanin will host a trunk show at Warehouse Row’s Amanda Pinson Jewelry, a curator of designer jewelry. The trunk show will feature garments, jewelry and accessories from the Alabama Chanin Basics line, made up of season-to-season items that seamlessly integrate into any wardrobe.
On Saturday July 27, Alabama Chanin will host a one-day sewing retreat workshop from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Participants, a mixture of beginners and experienced sewers, will work with Natalie Chanin and the Alabama Chanin team to create a unique DIY project, utilizing various stitching techniques, tips and tricks. All workshop materials are provided, along with lunch catered by Warehouse Row’s Public House. Pre-registration is required at alabamachanin.com.
Crafted by Southern Hands kicked off in June with a combination Bradley Gordon artwork exhibition and Billy Reid pop-up. The third event on August 30 will be a clothes-hanger exhibition of letterpress posters and weekend workshop with the Old Try and Chattanooga Print Cooperative. Old Try, a duo of Southerners-turned-Bostonians, specializes in posters printed on hundred-year-old machines with moveable type and wood blocks. Those who drop by Warehouse Row during the event-filled weekend will learn more about the rare art form of custom printing and will experience the craft firsthand.
For more information about Crafted by Southern Hands, visit craftedbysouthernhands.com.