Alternative Apparel Blog

Out in Chicago: Terrarium Class at Sprout Home

So, I’m what you could call an inadvertent green thumb. I’m not that knowledgeable about plants per se; I’m just good with plants because I forget about them long enough to make them need me and remember them often enough to make them love me. Given my inadvertent skill set, awhile back I discovered Sprout Home, now one of my favorite stores in Chicago. Whether you’re into plants or not, I promise you’ll be into this store because you’ll see things you haven’t seen elsewhere. You’ll also be able to pick up some great gifts for friends, or quirky accents for your home—things like plants that grow upside down or don’t need water to live, as well as unique pots and what I’ve been most intrigued by as of late, terrariums.

Salute-Worthy Style

Our holiday collection couldn’t be more on trend with our smart array of military-inspired pieces designed to perfectly complement any fall/winter ensemble. Classic army and olive hued thermals, stiff twill parkas, epaulet shoulder details and soft bomber styles all define the theme of the season. When arming yourself with these chic styles, make sure to not wear too many pieces at once; a little military mixed in with something simple will appear effortlessly cool without looking like you’re ready for combat.

Ti Amo Italia

It is soooo hard to be back from what I can say was one of the best weeks of my life (besides the week I got married). There is something about Italian culture that is so (for lack of a better word) PERFECT. I absolutely love everything about it. Here is a list of words that describe my most adored aspects of Italy as a whole…

pesto – vine ripe tomatoes – creamy cappuccinos in beautiful cups
chocolate croissants – spritz cocktails – paper thin pizzas
vintage bicycles – effortless style – leather – buzzing vespas
afternoon siestas – gelato – tiny Italian cookies – vino
pecorino romano with honey and pears – stilettos on cobblestones
salty bread soaked in olive oil – breathtaking views
vintage fiats – gondolas – nautical stripes

For those of you who have been to Italy, what do you love most about it? For those of you who have not been—you must go soon!

All in the Family

Alex Meiners, Ace and Max Hellmann in the lobby of Family Industries

I recently had the pleasure of meeting Max Hellmann, Alex Meiners and Ace the guard dog of Los Angeles’s Family Industries, a one-stop shop for all the silk screening needs one could have. Hellmann and Meiners met while both were honing their skills at another shop and immediately clicked when it came to art and design. With a shared passion for silk screening and a relentless D.I.Y. work ethic, the two decided to partner up and open their own studio a little over two years ago. Looking for a space that was friendly and accessible where they could work closely with their clients, they settled in a historic turn-of-the-century building in a notoriously artsy warehouse district in downtown L.A. that matched their vibe perfectly.

Camel Craze

Every season we observe colors on the runway that we end up incorporating into our own closets.  This season, camel has graced us with its presence from influential designers such as Stella McCartney, Phillip Lim 3.1, Gucci and Ferragamo, to name a few. The color is rich and earthy yet classic with an equestrian feel. This color looks great worn head-to-toe, but be sure to use different tones of the hue and opposite fabrications for a single look like satin and wool or leather and chiffon. We also love this color paired with black; it instantly makes the look modern and sleek.

Designing to a Tee: Alternative's Lissa Zwahlen

Lissa Zwahlen’s eyes light up as she vividly recounts to me her first experience with fashion design. The setting: a young girl’s room in suburban Colorado. The subject: none other than Barbie herself. “I remember meticulously cutting and taping scraps of fabric together to create the perfect outfit,” she recalls with a laugh. “I had a limited supply of store-bought Barbie clothes, so I decided to design the rest of her wardrobe myself…I think fashion is genetically in me.”

Recently named Alternative’s Design Director, Zwahlen has come a long way since her days of piecing together doll clothes. After gaining invaluable hands-on experience at New York’s illustrious FIT, she began designing for emerging surf brands in California in the late 80s. Notably, Zwahlen credits the “passionate, free-spirited nature of surf culture” as a key influence in her career, as it “allowed for a highly creative design environment.” She soon made her way to Quiksilver where she was instrumental in launching the company’s revolutionary Roxy brand for women in 1994. After years of continued success in the surf industry, Zwahlen brought her immense talent and love of laid-back lifestyle apparel to Alternative in June 2010.