Natalie Chanin & Enrico Marone-Cinzano
41, 39, co-founders of Project Alabama in Florence, Alabama
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Description: Clothingcompany that largely uses recycled materials
Start-up: 2000 for$20,000
Sales: projecting $1.5million in 2003
Helping Hands: Heading to aparty one night, Chanin handsewed a T-shirt and was hooked. With acostume design and fashion stylist background, Chanin joined forceswith co-founder Marone-Cinzano, a businessman with experience infinance and marketing. She was unable to find a manufacturer in NewYork to do the handwork–her collection’s resemblance toquilting inspired Chanin to return to her native Alabama and find”quilting circles” that could lend a hand (she now livesin both New York and Alabama, but spends most of her time inAlabama).
Recycled Goods: ProjectAlabama’s growth necessitates branching out to include newmaterials, but the core of the collection is made from recycledcotton jersey T-shirts. Retailing for $250 to $4,000, their targethas always been high-end. “We made a conscious effort tocontact those type of stores,” explains Chanin. “Luckily,we had some of the world’s best stores buy from the beginning,like Barneys New York and Browns in London.”
Supplies Needed:“Project Alabama consists of two components: the use ofrecycled materials and the quality of handwork,” says Chanin,speaking proudly of the 120 women who subcontract stitchwork.”The kind of pride they have in each and every piece israre.”
Description: Clothingcompany that largely uses recycled materials
Start-up: 2000 for$20,000
Sales: projecting $1.5million in 2003
Helping Hands: Heading to aparty one night, Chanin handsewed a T-shirt and was hooked. With acostume design and fashion stylist background, Chanin joined forceswith co-founder Marone-Cinzano, a businessman with experience infinance and marketing. She was unable to find a manufacturer in NewYork to do the handwork–her collection’s resemblance toquilting inspired Chanin to return to her native Alabama and find”quilting circles” that could lend a hand (she now livesin both New York and Alabama, but spends most of her time inAlabama).
Recycled Goods: ProjectAlabama’s growth necessitates branching out to include newmaterials, but the core of the collection is made from recycledcotton jersey T-shirts. Retailing for $250 to $4,000, their targethas always been high-end. “We made a conscious effort tocontact those type of stores,” explains Chanin. “Luckily,we had some of the world’s best stores buy from the beginning,like Barneys New York and Browns in London.”
Supplies Needed:“Project Alabama consists of two components: the use ofrecycled materials and the quality of handwork,” says Chanin,speaking proudly of the 120 women who subcontract stitchwork.”The kind of pride they have in each and every piece israre.”
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