Alternative Apparel Blog

Feeling Blue? Indulge in Our Indigo Obsession

We’ve got a serious case of the blues, but don’t worry—we definitely aren’t sad.  We’re just totally digging our amazing new styles in rich, ultra-saturated shades of indigo.  The color looks best mixed with earthy tones and of course, a crisp bright white.  Always fashionable and super-functional, this fab hue is a must-have addition to your warm weather wardrobe. Check out our new indigo obsession for women here!

Linus Bikes: Sustainable Chic Transportation

Nestled right down the street from our Abbot Kinney store in sunny Venice, California sits über-stylish Linus Bikes. This one-of-a-kind bike shop encompasses everything modern and hip yet vintage and alternative about a bicycle. Inspired by the French city bike models of the 1950s and 60s, Linus Bikes are hand-crafted with classic, elegant designs for the ultimate in retro bike couture. The vintage-meets modern appeal is turning heads as Linus hits the streets (literally) with their popular Linus Roadster Classic, which makes riding a bike in style a no-brainer.

Not only is a Linus bike a fashionable accent to your summer wardrobe, but it’s also a sustainable and eco-friendly mode of transportation which helps to eliminate in carbon emissions, congestion and noise pollution. An added bonus, these bikes are affordable, which leaves more cash in your wallet for all your summer adventures. If you’re in the L.A. area, make sure to check out Linus Bikes at 1413½ Abbot Kinney Blvd. in Venice.

×Eleni Snider
photos by Stephen Zeigler

Rye Barcott: Melding Military and Humanitarian Service

With the excitement dangling over us for this Wednesday’s book signing at our new Venice store, we thought you might like to know a bit about Rye Barcott, the author of It Happened on the Way to War.

More than just a gifted writer, Barcott is a global humanitarian and activist. He co-founded Carolina for Kibera (CFK) along with Salim Mohamed and Tabitha Atieno Festo while he was an undergraduate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill earning his B.A. in Peace, War and Defense. CFK is a non-governmental organization (NGO) that invests in creating strong, local leaders in the Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya through participatory development, a movement that CFK pioneered.

Creativity in Bloom: Clover Chadwick and Dandelion Ranch

For Clover Chadwick, owner of Los Angeles-based Dandelion Ranch, floral design is a lot like cooking. It was during her years spent studying agriculture and working in the restaurant business at French Laundry in Napa Valley that Chadwick developed her love of nature and appreciation for fresh, seasonal ingredients.

Each day, Chadwick pays a visit to downtown L.A.’s Flower Market in search of the best that Mother Nature has to offer, including fresh fruit, herbs and spices. “I look for the best of what’s in season each day to create designs based around that. Seasonally, Mother Nature gives us a pallet where everything matches,” she explains. “Eucalyptus is a great example; every stage of growth has a different color and texture that lends itself to different designs.”

East Meets West: Finding Inspiration for Summer 2011 in the Heart of Japan

Note: In the wake of Japan’s recent tragedy, our hearts go out to those affected. To the millions of people whose lives have been forever changed, we’re offering our support. Learn how you can help spread the heart with Greg Alterman, Shenae Grimes and the Yoshiki Foundation. To make a difference with what you wear, you can also check out Richard Chai’s LOVE JAPAN tees and tanks. 100% of the proceeds benefit Japan relief efforts for earthquake and tsunami victims. Remember, no effort is too small.

Last year, Alternative's key designers and innovaters—headed by Founder and Chief Creative Officer Greg Alterman—journeyed to Tokyo, Japan to explore everything from the urban lifestyle and architecture to the stunning natural landscape and ancient works of art. They wandered down side streets, strolled through lush, landscaped parks, tasted to-die-for local fare and (that’s right) attended a traditional sumo wrestling match. Over the course of two weeks, what they found was a seemingly endless pool of inspiration for Alternative’s new summer 2011 collection.