Alternative Apparel Blog

Inside the Brand: Project Alternative

Last night, members of the Alternative family gathered together at our headquarters to participate in a competition inspired by the popular fashion design television show, Project Runway. Atlanta and L.A. employees with a wide range of fashion design backgrounds entered into the Project Alternative competition. Some had a head start as they are designers in our L.A. office, while others had a chance to express a rarely seen creative side as members of our Warehouse, Human Resources and Customer Experience departments.

Alternative's Best of 2011

With the year coming to a close, we wanted to give our community a quick look into the past with our hand-picked list of the top 11 best Alternative moments of 2011. From fashion shows and events to charity partnerships and grand openings, these are our most memorable moments of the year.

11. Earlier this month, we launched our Abbot Kinney store’s T-Shirt Recycling Program benefiting Upward Bound House in efforts to eliminate homelessness in California.

10. In March, our PR team went on the road to Austin, Texas for SXSW to promote the brand and share in all the fun. We hosted the Alternative Lounge and served as the go-to spot for VH1 interviews with popular artists like Foster the People, Duran Duran, Dirty Vegas and Moby.

9. In April, we introduced a year-long partnership with Susan G. Komen for the Cure and designed the Alternative Pink Ribbon collection which gives 10% of retail price to benefit breast cancer with a minimum $25,000 donation.

One Hour Drummer

Imagine this: a place that can transform even the most musically challenged person into a drumming enthusiast without learning how to read a single note. In Atlanta, such a place exists with One Hour Drummer, an interactive music studio which leads drumming lessons, workshops and biweekly drum labs for inspired, local musicians and teaches with a simple WorkPlay system. People longing for a musical experience with little or no music background can join together to form a drumming community to relieve everyday stress. The studio also has wellness programs that are designed for families, seniors, special needs children, soon-to-be moms and cancer patients--for whom drumming has actually been proven to increase levels of cancer-fighting t-cells.

The Lighthouse and the Whaler Unplugged

The Lighthouse and the Whaler having been enchanting us with their wonderful sounds throughout 2010.  We first met the gang back in March during SXSW in Austin and later spent more quality time with them when they performed as finalists in our Unsigned Artist Competition in New York this past August.  They recently stopped through Atlanta while on tour and we were able to meet up with the guys for a special unplugged performance while we wasted away the afternoon hanging out in a Midtown parking lot. First song up is "White Days" which, P.S., is also the song we used for our Fall 2010 campaign.

A Community Affair, from the Farm to the Table

A thriving metropolis and the unofficial capital of the South, Atlanta, Georgia is known for its bustling downtown filled with soaring skyscrapers, booming businesses and gridlocked traffic. Few visitors would guess—and many residents still don’t know—that just a short drive outside the city lies a tranquil, natural oasis of sustainability, cultivation, arts and culture.

A sprawling, 1,000-acre community located in the city of Palmetto, Serenbe was founded by Steve and Marie Nygren and Rawson Haverty, who have created a model of new urbanism promoting walkability and community living as well as land preservation, agriculture and energy efficiency. In addition to its private residential homes, art galleries and original shops with charmingly eclectic architecture, Serenbe is home to a 30-acre organic farm which is helping to pioneer Greater Atlanta’s farm-to-table movement.

 
Pictured above: Paige Witherington, Serenbe Farm Manager (left);
The Saturday Serenbe Farmers' Market (right)

Q&A with Young Blood's Kelly Teasley

Over the past decade, Young Blood Gallery & Boutique has introduced Atlanta to hundreds of up-and-coming artists and do-it-yourself crafters. This acclaimed indie showcase of talent is filled with unique finds, from beautiful and often thought-provoking artwork to hand-made jewelry and accessories to pottery, furniture and miscellaneous gifts galore (including a selection of Alternative tees!). I recently had the opportunity to sit down for a little Q&A with Young Blood co-owner Kelly Teasley and she confirmed what I already knew: Young Blood is one of those rare gems that you wish were everywhere…but then again, you’re glad it’s not because it makes your city special.