Natalie Chanin & Enrico Marone-Cinzano 41, 39, co-founders of Project Alabama in Florence, Alabama
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
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."
