Alabama Chanin
Since 2000Florence, AlabamaA 501(c)(3) not-for-profit
We believe in the power of making.
Alabama Chanin, The School of Making, and public art and humanities work are programs of Project Threadways, a single not-for-profit. We design and produce textiles by hand. We teach craft skills. We document, archive, and share stories of makers. All from the same building, the same organic cotton, and the same hands—with cultural heritage, craft preservation, and creative placemaking at the core of our work.
HAND-SEWING AT THE FACTORYThe pillars — One mission, four areas of work
01Alabama Chanin
A two-decade practice in slow design, artisan-led clothing and textiles, transparent supply chains, and ethical labor.
02The School of Making
Workshops, community, and materials that build skill and creative agency, plus books, kits, patterns, and organic cotton fabric.
03Arts and Humanities
The archive, oral histories, symposia and public history projects that document and interpret history, community, and power through textiles.
04The Maker Lab
A new headquarters and community space at 302 East College Street: studios, workshop rooms, exhibitions, a café, and retail area.
Alabama Chanin — Collection #72
Designed, cut, painted, and sewn by hand in Florence, Alabama.
Every piece is shaped by skilled hands, slow methods, and lasting intention. Each purchase helps sustain artisan craft, preserve textile traditions and supply chains, and keep the continuity between makers, materials, and place.
Fields
PerianthFeatured pieces
View All →
Tops, dresses, outerwear, and bottoms. Made-to-order pieces, handcrafted from organic cotton fabrics using slow methods and local, ethical labor.
View All →The Capital CampaignThe Maker Lab, 302 East College Street
A building for the future of craft.
In January 2026, we broke ground on a new headquarters and community space in downtown Florence, a place for making, gathering, and exploring the past, present, and future of craft. Every gift in the months ahead goes into the rooms where the work actually happens: artisan studios, workshop spaces, equipment, and the materials that teach someone to sew for the first time.
Classes and scholarships
Hands-on classes in sewing, embroidery, and more for 100+ participants, with scholarships available by request.
Exhibitions and public history
Exhibitions, public history projects, and symposia on sustainability, design, and textile culture.
Community Gathering Space
A café, retail, and event space to showcase craft and offer room for creativity, all within walking distance of downtown.
The Maker Lab, Under Construction
DESIGN + FASHIONApril 28, 2026
A Better Way to Make Clothing
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…
Read more →Latest posts
INSPIRATIONSeptember 10, 2026
Remembrance | 9/11
CRAFT PRESERVATIONMay 3, 2026
Now Available: Symposium Recordings
CRAFT PRESERVATIONMay 2, 2026
Cotton Stories, Oral History, and the Living South
NEWSApril 29, 2026
A Symposium Thank You
DESIGN + FASHIONApril 28, 2026
A Better Way to Make Clothing
All journal entries →The School of Making — Events & workshops
Sew, learn, gather, and visit with us.
Virtual classes and in-person workshops teaching hand-sewing, pattern-making, fabric-painting, and design exploration. Tailored to any skill level.
The Archives
Over two decades and counting.
It began in 2000 with a documentary film called Stitch and 200 one-of-a-kind T-shirts hand-crafted by artisans around The Shoals. The archive explores the timeline of this work alongside a growing collection of oral history interviews.
The mailing list
Newsletters from each of our programs.
New product releases, craft preservation updates, event announcements, exclusive content, and inspiring stories from the textile world.
The School of Making Club
A room full of hand-sewists, always open.
An app where members exchange tips, find inspiration, and build skills together, with access to resources, conversations, and guidance from the studio team. Hosted by Mighty Network.
Join the Club