Alternative Apparel Blog

L.A.'s Modern Beachcomber

L.A. area craftsman, James Olarte, is one talented artist. He uses found beach objects including shells among other natural resources to create truly unique creations. Take a look at our interview with him to learn more about this modern beachcomber.

On Point with POKE Acupuncture

Walking into my first acupuncture session, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I’ll admit that like most, I was a little skeptical—cynical even. But, my curiosity about Eastern medicine outweighed my skepticism, and so I decided to give this millennia-old healing process a try.

Whatever cliché images I had in my mind were dashed as soon as I entered POKE Acupuncture on Melrose Ave. in Los Angeles. You won’t find any of the typical doctor’s office sterility or faux Asian Zen vibe here. Instead, owner Russell Brown has meticulously crafted a sanctuary that’s both stylish and comforting. Simply put, his office feels like home—your cool, artsy friend’s home where you always feel warm and welcome.

Destination: New York

New York’s Hudson Valley
When I hear the words “New York” the images of a giant, metropolitan city fill my imagination. Being a west coast native whose experience of The Empire State has been limited to the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn, the notion of going “upstate” never really entered my head until a recent work trip took us in that direction. After reading about the modern art museum “Dia:Beacon” we were intrigued to see what other treasures New York’s Hudson Valley might hold and decided to take a few days after the job to find out.

Alternative Apparel: Behind the Brand 2012

Want to take an inside glimpse into the Alternative brand, culture and lifestyle that we center our comfortable clothing around? Watch our 2012 brand video above, featuring the song "Thieves and Kings" by our musical muses the Peach Kings.

Socialize with Us

We love getting to know our Alternative brand supporters and becoming friends with each and every one of you. If you're social media savvy and want to connect with us, we'd love it! Check out below for where you can find us in the social media world.

• "Like" us on Facebook
• Follow our random thoughts on Twitter
• Follow our interests on Pinterest
• Follow our artistic photos on Tumblr
• Follow our adventures on Instagram @AlternativeApparel

We look forward to socializing with you!

Oasis of Color: Spring 2012

It started with a trip to Palm Springs...

One sunny day last summer, we went out looking for inspiration deep in the California deserts. We scratched down a short punch-list, grabbed a bunch of cameras and mapped our pathway. We found that the gritty, honest aesthetic of Palm Springs was our creative canvas for our spring 2012 collection.