Natalie was born and raised in Florence, Alabama, a small town which lies on a flat plain between the Appalachian foothills and the Tennessee River.  In 2001, after 22 years of living and working abroad as a costume designer, she returned home to film a short documentary called “Stitch” -- a road map through rural America told by those who made and used quilts.

Inspired by the craftsmanship featured in her film, she produced 200 one-of-a-kind hand-sewn T-shirts which soon caught the eye of top fashion buyers.   The demand for these garments eventually launched the company Project Alabama -which closed its doors in the state of Alabama in the year 2006 - and now Alabama Chanin.

Since Project Alabama closed their operations in Alabama and outsourced production, Natalie left the company and proudly runs Alabama Chanin.  She continues to enlist local artisans, using sustainable materials and strives to bring a contemporary context to age-old techniques.   Natalie¹s commitment to preserve these craft traditions, or “living arts”, is part of her desire to develop continuity between generations, communities, and sustainable, local business practice.

Natalie's work has been featured in Vogue, Time and the New York Times among others.

Her Alabama Stitch Book - published by STC - is now available in stores around the country.