A Look At The Resilient Danish Brand That Emerged In Christiana

One of the first things visitors see when they enter Freetown Christiania in Copenhagen is the ALIS store. With urban caps, tees, baggy hoodies and tracksuits displayed in the store’s shelves, and skateboards decorating the place, it’s instantly clear that ALIS is a streetwear brand; those who are familiar with the name know that it’s much more than that.

ALIS isn’t a brand you’ll see in catwalks and at fancy fashion shows. It’s a brand that became known in skateparks, and at hip hop festivals and street culture events.

Its story starts in Freetown Christiania back in 1996, when Albert Hatchwell and Isabelle Hammerich, two friends who were born and raised in Copenhagen’s hippie district, decided to establish a brand that would embrace and promote the area’s philosophy, while also supporting its underground culture. By constructing Christiania’s skate bowl Wonderland just two years after the brand launched, they made their point clear: skate culture is one of the main points behind the brand, and ALIS isn’t only about clothing. Wonderland became instantly known among the local skate community, and it wasn’t long before outstanding skaters from all over the world began travelling to Denmark to do their tricks in Christiania’s wooden skate bowl.

Seeing how important it is for a city’s underground scene to have a space where festivals, skate competitions and other independent events can take place, the people behind ALIS decided to build skateboard parks outside Denmark, too. Addis Skatepark in Ethiopia, 7Hills in Amman, Jordan, and Pura Pura in La Paz, Bolivia, are just some of the projects that ALIS completed, with the help of specialists and volunteers from Make Life Skate Life, giving locals the chance to practise their skateboarding skills and keep their town’s underground culture alive.

The brand’s clothing line features stylish and comfortable garments, and in 2017 they began to produce high-quality clothing pieces made of 100% organic cotton.

ALIS isn’t just a clothing brand, nor is it all about skating. It’s about everything that has to do with street culture, and, as one of the founders told us, an article will never manage to explain what ALIS is. You will just have to visit and find out for yourself.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.

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