Sustainable fashion pioneer Amy Powney has stepped down as creative director of British brand Mother of Pearl to launch Akyn, a new label that will debut in May.
The move ends a 10-year stint at the creative helm of Mother of Pearl, time Powney used to embed her vision of sustainable luxury into the brand’s operating model. After winning the BFC/Vogue Fashion Fund award in 2017, she used the prize money to develop a collection that was traceable from farm to finished product and has continued to invest in transparency, responsible production and advocacy.
Powney’s departure comes as independent, sustainable brands face extreme market pressure as inflation-hit consumers seek to economise. Many have shuttered over the past year.
Akyn will launch with the support of an unnamed partner, giving the brand the backing to develop a wider reach while maintaining Powney’s focus on sustainable luxury, according to a press release.
Learn more:
Amy Powney’s Quest to Build a Sustainable Fashion Label
The Mother of Pearl designer talks about how she quit the fashion system to build a responsible luxury brand, the subject of a documentary that premieres at the start of London Fashion Week on Thursday.
