‘There’s an opportunity in this moment’: Oak & Acorn founder says it’s time for change
The founder of US-based denim brand Oak & Acorn – Only for the Rebelles has said the pandemic has brought a greater global awareness, an opportunity to address some historic inequities and created an impetus for change.
Speaking to Inside Denim magazine in the upcoming issue, Miko Underwood (pictured, bottom row, left) said the rise of covid-19 has transformed our social, political and environmental interactions.
“The pandemic has given us ‘space’ to communicate on a much deeper level because of our shared experience,” she said. “It makes room for authentic and informed conversation around systemic inequities we’ve perpetuated for generations via culture, race and class. It’s dismantled so much of what has been a familiar way of life and forced us into restructuring.
"As a result, we are seeing an evolution of authentic brands that are born in service to the global community. And larger brands are lending their platforms to emerging talent to adopt more meaningful exchange.”
She tells us how she’d like to see greater inclusion and representation in fashion brands (particularly at business owner/executive level), and denim, where there is a “tight community of makers and gatekeepers”, with more mentorships at high school level, paid internships and grant programmes.
She explains how her mill partners inspire her, and how the brand is reflected through the fabric choices and sustainability strategy.
Read the full interview in Inside Denim Issue 3, which will be published and live on the Magazine page of the site next week. The magazine also features an in-depth look at how the cotton industry is gathering data to support its stories; innovations in the field of natural dyes; Cone Denim’s water-saving plant in Mexico; and we hear from Seoul-based denim designers about the scene in South Korea.
