Alternative Apparel Blog

We Heart Hoodies

What's sleek and snuggly and warm all over? Hoodies! From zippers to pullovers, classic grey to bold brights, we <3 hoodies—and apparently so do you. Check out the images above that we received from two super-cool Alternative fans, Brenda from Boston, MA and Marko from Ridgefield Park, NJ. Both are sporting the Unisex Rocky Overdyed Zip Hoodie in Eco-Black Cherry. It's a TKO, guys!

And remember, hoodies aren't just for jeans and sneakers anymore. To put a more sophisticated spin on things, you ladies can try pairing your hoodie with skinny pants and heels or leggings and knee-high boots. You can also layer your hoodie over dresses and skirts for a more feminine, flirty look. As for the gentlemen, you can score some serious fashion points by layering your hoodie beneath a blazer or jacket.

To see more of Alternative's latest and greatest hoodie styles, check out our We Heart Hoodies collection.

The Return of Division Day

We're oh-so-happy to welcome back the boys from Division Day with the addition of their single "Chalk Lines" to the music player this week.  Some of you will remember them from our fall 2007 catalog (see page 156).  Since then, they've released a new album titled Visitation that has a brand new sound; here's what Stereogum had to say:

The 11-song collection was produced by NIN/Beck bassist Justin Meldal-Johnsen, who gave the group a denser, thicker sound. Compositionally, the guys have reinvented themselves as a more maturely dark and focused band than you heard on Beartrap Island. They're calling the shift "post-industrial blackened romantigaze."

And for this week's giveaway, we've got FIVE gift packs of music (Visitation on CD & vinyl!), with one lucky winner grabbing one of our burnout tees autographed by the band!



(From left to right, it's Seb on bass, Kevin on drums, and Rohner on keyboard/vocals. The dude standing behind the t-shirt in plaid is guitarist Ryan, who was on an important business call during the taking of this photo.  At least, that's what he said.)

How do you enter to win? Leave a comment on this post with your name and email address and we'll select FIVE random winners on Friday, October 30, 2009. Best of luck!

Division Day has a few shows coming up in November, on tour with Elefant; don't miss out!

11/20 Las Vegas, NV @ The Rock Room
11/21 Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour
11/23 San Diego, CA @ Casbah

And get some more photos of the band after the jump!

Blog Action Day 2009 - Climate Change

It’s possible that climate change will end up being the biggest issue that our generation will face one day, and it also happens to be the topic of this year’s Blog Action Day. Climate change has the potential to affect almost all aspects of our lives, from the food we eat to the weather outside. Whether it’s our fault or just the grand scheme of nature isn’t really the issue any longer, as much as it is the acknowledgment and acceptance that we all have the ability to change what’s happening for better or worse.

If you’re still a little confused about it all, climate change basically refers to the warming of Earth’s atmosphere and the effect it has on the planet. Today, most scientists believe that we excessively emit harmful gases (think carbon dioxide) that thicken the atmosphere. This thickening serves as insulation and traps excessive heat and energy within the atmosphere, like an oven. Trees normally play the important role of converting these harmful gases into oxygen, which is great, but as the world develops more, we have fewer and fewer trees. The effects of climate change can be seen far and wide in the melting of the polar ice caps, changes in rain patterns, or a rise in the sea level, and its continued impact on plants, wildlife, and humans will only increase in the future.

The good news is that there is a lot that we can do to decrease our impact. If everyone did the basics we hear daily – to recycle, turn off your lights, carpool when you can, shop for local produce – the impact worldwide would be enormous! From recycling a single plastic bottle (which can conserve enough energy to light a light bulb for 6 hours) to offsetting your own personal footprint (check out our friends at CarbonFund.org) to wearing an eco-friendly tee, we are all presented with choices and opportunities daily to make a difference. On the upside, fashion companies are are making huge strides every day to decrease their impact, so you can look great and feel good about what you’re wearing.

Want to make a difference with what you wear? Check out our Alternative Earth line. You can’t go wrong with one of our 100% Certified Organic Cotton Tees or our Eco-Heather styles, which contain a combination of organic cotton and recycled polyester.

And in the spirit of Blog Action Day, keep your eyes peeled for what happens in December at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, where our world leaders will meet up and make some pretty major decisions that affect us and the future of our planet.

Photo: Dan Crosbie

Bonus! Now Playing "This Must Be It" by Röyksopp and Fever Ray

We just can't get enough Röyksopp over here, so we're adding their newest single "This Must Be It" to our music player.  Vocals on the track are performed by the one and only Karin Dreijer Andersson, who you may know as one half of The Knife and one whole of Fever Ray.

Check out the wacky video for "This Must Be It" below; let me know if you have a place where I can get a good deal on one of those drum cars.

Steal Of The Week! 60% OFF All Headwear

This fall weather is coming in full blast, and you need to keep your head warm!  Don't they say that 50% of your body heat escapes through your head?  I think for me, it escapes through my mouth because I'm way too chatty, but for the rest of you smooth talkers, you'll need to keep your noggin covered.  In addition to our regular favorites like our destroyed Fidel cap and our ol' classic ah70 baseball cap, we've also got some amazing vintage style headwear made with wool blend fabric, like our Gramps Caputo cabby hat.

Use promo code CXHEAD to get 60% off all headwear.
Hurry! Offer expires Sunday 10/25/2009.

Promotion applies to all regular and sale merchandise. Offer valid on all headwear styles only. Valid for consumers only; not valid on merchandise purchased at wholesale pricing. Discount will be taken off subtotal of goods at time of checkout; does not apply to additional charges such as tax or shipping fees. Discount not valid for the purchase of gift cards. In order to be eligible for free shipping, subtotal of the order must equal minimum requirement after discount is calculated; free shipping is not calculated before discount is applied. Offer ends October 25, 2009. Offer subject to change.

Think Pink

As most of you know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and we’d like to remind you Alternative fans to show your support for the cause and wear pink all month long. Remember, this can go for you gentlemen, too—even NFL players have been seen sporting pink gloves and cleats in a collective effort to raise awareness.

To help you think pink during October and all year round, we’ve put together a collection of our favorite—and most fashionable—pink pieces for the ladies. Check out our Think Pink collection for pretty-in-pink styles to showcase your support. Because really, who doesn’t look good in pink?

You can also check your local events listings and visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation for more ways to help spread the word.