Get to know us
We are a small team of artists, creative entrepreneurs, and program leaders who want to see fashion arts thrive in Oakland and the greater Bay Area. We founded Oakland Style Lab in 2021 to connect existing, emerging, and aspiring fashion designers, boosting their technical and entrepreneurial development for success in the growing creative workforce.
Our mission
We are on a mission to create a stronger, more inclusive fashion arts ecosystem in the Bay Area. Through hands-on learning, creative expression, and environmental justice, we cultivate skill-sharing and innovation at the intersection of fashion, ecology, and heritage, supporting a new generation of makers and storytellers.
Our vision
We envision a future where fashion is a force for collective care, cultural resilience, and ecological balance—rooted in justice, driven by community, and powered by imagination.
We are building a world that is more caring and regenerative for people and our planet!
Our team
Oakland Style Lab is led by a powerhouse team with deep roots in Oakland, decades of experience in cultural entrepreneurship, and cutting-edge expertise in fashion, education, and sustainability.
Jeff Perlstein
Co-Founder / Program Director
Olivia Cueva
Co-founder / Lead Instructor
Sienna
Youth Instructor
Oakland Style Lab is a fiscally-sponsored project of Independent Arts & Media, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.
