Miko Underwood is the Founder / Designer of OAK & ACORN ~ Only for the Rebelles, the first sustainable brand in Harlem, NY.  A denim expert and innovator, with nearly twenty years of wash, product and brand development, Miko has become a leading voice in the sustainable denim space. She is committed to propelling the fashion industry into a more sustainable era where empowerment, cultural responsibility & accountability are at the forefront. She is passionate in telling a more inclusive American Denim story by shining a light on the UNTOLD HISTORY of the Indigenous American and the enslaved Africans contributions that have shaped American manufacturing and American Denim. Miko noticed firsthand the devastating environmental effects of manufacturing denim, inspiring her to research and innovate sustainable alternatives. 

Her work in Denim has won her industry accolades including a feature in VOGUE & other global recognition. The CEO of CFDA, Stephen Kolb, recommended Miko as WGSN Future Designer 2021.  And she was voted as one of the most influential people in denim for the Rivet 50 2021, an annual index of the most influential people in denim globally.  Miko is also the 2021 WINNER of RIVET + PROJECT AWARDS: Best Men Collection. She garnered support from fashion organizations like Harlem's Fashion Row, RAISEfashion & is a CFDA / Bethann Hardison Designer Hub Grant Recipient and Designer Hub Founding Member.

OAK & ACORN was one of 6 brands featured in Nordstrom NYC’s Black Founders x Center Stage Pop-Up in February 2020. The brand made history in Nordstrom as the first Black Designer Brand on the Designer 4th Floor in their New York City Flagship. OAK & ACORN ~ Only for the Rebelles has been listed as “Label to Watch” by The SPINOFF, HIGHSNOBIETY and most recently by HYPEBAE.

Aside from design, Miko founded BLDG 357, Inc. a boutique multimedia design consultancy with global clients in the U.S., China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, New Zealand & West Africa to aid fashion companies in the areas of team, brand development & brand diversification. She is also the consulting creative director for We Got Us Now, Inc. a non-profit that focuses on identifying & amplifying the voices of children and young adults impacted by parental incarceration & active voice for those who share her personal story in the fashion community.

In 2020, Miko founded The Denim Collective, an educational initiative to highlight the Black Community's contributions to the origins of American fashion - beginning with denim. She's also co-authored articles on the history of denim for the Zoe Report, two articles on Juneteenth for the Council of Fashion Designers of America & was featured in the Business of Fashion, Essence, Fashionista, Heddels, Refinery 29 , Levi's & Patagonia for her work.

Miko is seen here wearing The Rebelle Coverall in Cloud.