Alternative Apparel Blog

n.om: Natalia Benson Jewelry

Nestled amongst the racks of super soft, comfortable clothing ranging from neutral to brightly colored prints and stripes in our flagship Abbot Kinney store, one can find an eclectic line of n.om jewelry. Handcrafted from mixed metals, chains, leather, wire and unique stones, n.om jewelry represents a powerful tool for self-expression and makes a killer combo paired with a simple solid tee or tank.

Making a Difference with Upward Bound House

In December, we introduced you to Upward Bound House, a safe haven in Santa Monica for homeless families with children to live while they get back on their feet. As of now, our flagship Abbot Kinney store has donated well over 200 clothing items to the organization over a three month span. Recently, our own assistant manager Caroline Yohanan got a chance to speak with UBH’s Volunteer and Services Coordinator, Rebecca Zada, at a volunteer day. Here’s the inside scoop on Zada’s fulfilling job and what’s in store for the future of Upward Bound House.

Love is in the Air: DIY Event in Venice

Everyone knows that homemade gifts are the best gifts because they are thoughtful and individually created for a specific person. This Valentine's Day, we wanted to help our shoppers create an original do-it-yourself tee for their loved one or a special treat for themselves, so we hend a "Love is in the Air" DIY event this past Saturday at our Abbot Kinney flagship store.

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.

Reworked Collection

Last week, we unveiled our new Reworked Collection, featuring limited-edition Alternative pieces, reconstructed and repurposed with hand-crafted vintage accents by Reworked Goods. Available exclusively at our Abbot Kinney flagship store in Venice, CA, each specially designed style has been detailed with mid-century guitar straps from the 1950s and 1960s to give our signature vintage-soft clothes and accessories a truly Alternative edge.

DIY with Alternative and Foam Magazine

Last weekend, our flagship store in Venice, CA hosted a DIY event with Foam magazine.  Shoppers and attendees had the opportunity to customize their favorite Alternative tee, tank or sweater working with blogger Aimme Santos of SwellMayde as well as Alternative's very own Design Director Lissa Zwahlen.  Free beverages were provided by Izze and a special acoustic set was performed by Vincenzo Barba of Hot Chicks on Pogo Sticks.


Aimee provided us with a step-by-step process to transform your tee (she used the Eco-Heather crew, but you can use whatever tee your heart desires!) into a stunning design with fringe and a custom pocket: