Today marks Natalie’s 60th birthday, and we’re raising a glass to celebrate this special day for Alabama Chanin’s founder, fearless leader, creative director, jack of all trades, and H.B.I.C. (lovingly proclaimed head b*tch in charge—with the t-shirt to prove it). All of us at Alabama Chanin wish Natalie a beautiful, vibrant, inspiring, celebratory day to mark 60 incredible years on Planet Earth.
In addition to Natalie’s 60th, look for our upcoming retrospective, 21 Years coming September 21st—celebrating twenty-one years of defining sustainability. Countdown with us here.
To commemorate her birthday, and the soon-to-launch 21 Years project, Natalie has created a design scholarship at her alma mater, North Carolina State University. With the help of a similar scholarship, received at a critical time in her studies, Natalie was able to successfully complete her design education and graduate with honors in 1987. In gratitude, the Natalie Chanin Design Scholarship provides need-based scholarships for students pursuing an undergraduate degree in the College of Design at North Carolina State University. Preference will be given to students with a demonstrated interest in textile design who have overcome specific challenges including, but not limited to, being from the first generation in their family to attend college and/or being in or from a single-parent household.
Natalie asks anyone interested in doing something special for her birthday this year (and every year into the future) to consider contributing a small donation to her scholarship fund—or to any educational fund of their choice. Every donation, small or large, makes a difference.
To help us celebrate, send virtual birthday wishes to Natalie here: 60@alabamachanin.com
Donate to the Natalie Chanin Design Scholarship here.
Contributions to the scholarship can also be made by check. Checks should be made out to the NCSU Foundation, have the scholarship name written in the memo line (or on a note included with the check), and be mailed to:
NC State College of Design
Attn: Lauren Hipp
Campus Box 7701
Raleigh, NC 27695
Questions? Please contact Lauren Hipp at lmhipp@ncsu.edu or 919-515-8320.
About the College of Design:
The NC State College of Design prepares students for a career in design through interdisciplinary engagement, innovative exploration of technologies, and a core foundation of design thinking and practice. The College of Design offers undergraduate, graduate, doctor of design, and PhD in design degrees and currently has over 850 enrolled students. NC State University is a leading public research university located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In response to an ever-expanding global interest in all disciplines of design, the College’s curriculum incorporates relevant practices reflecting both the university’s Tier 1 Research status and its land-grant mission. Effective design requires attention and sensitivity to the social, economic, political, cultural, and behavioral understanding of the environment and people. Our graduate and undergraduate programs in Architecture, Art + Design, Design Studies, Graphic Design, Industrial Design, and Landscape Architecture are intended to develop a designer’s perception, knowledge, skills, and problem-solving abilities to develop design solutions for public interest and to serve the needs of all users and to impact the myriad of sustainable and life-quality problems across the globe.