The designer and activist on her hopes for fashion’s future.
Last month, we welcomed Amy Powney, the multi-hyphenate creative behind AKYN, to treen. Over the course of an evening, members of our community explored the collection, caught up over glasses of wine and tuned in to a conversation between Amy and our founder, Cat.
Amy Powney joined Mother of Pearl as a studio assistant in 2006, becoming the creative director just seven years later and transforming the brand into a shining example of sustainable fashion. Now, in 2025, Amy has launched her own company: the cool, considered brand we know and love as AKYN.
During the hour-long conversation, Amy reflected on her journey from shaping an existing brand to starting her own from scratch – and further back, to her childhood growing up on a farm. This formative experience equipped her with a deep appreciation for physical labour; she was plucking vegetables from the soil as a child, and helping her parents tend to the crops. With this unique insight, a respect for garment workers has always been intrinsic to her philosophy, both as a designer and a consumer.
“Our vision as a team is to create clothing that doesn’t cost the earth, and for the designs to make women feel incredible. We create with conscience and love.”
Amy has carried signature design details through to her new venture – notably, her faux pearl-adorned sleeves, which add a subtle flourish to otherwise understated pieces. “My design style is all about elevated classics made in sustainable fabrications,” Amy said. “Our vision as a team is to create clothing that doesn’t cost the earth, and for the designs to make women feel incredible. We create with conscience and love.”
When asked by Cat about fabrics to seek out and those to steer clear of, Amy advised against all virgin synthetics. “I’m against all synthetic fibres and the fossil fuel industry,” she affirmed. “There isn’t currently a process to recycle polyester fibres on a large scale, so our landfills are heaped high with this form of plastic.”
That being said, AKYN utilises small amounts of recycled synthetics in its knitwear to give the pieces lasting shape and durability, but the majority of the composition is natural: RWS wool, merino and organic cotton. This, in a way, reflects Amy’s compassionate attitude toward becoming a sustainable consumer. It isn’t about perfection, but rather the intention to do better and buy better.
“My mum buys most of her clothes from F&F [Tesco],” Amy told us. “It’s not a sustainable brand, but she only buys about two pieces per year, so actually, she’s more sustainable than I am.” Ultimately, her message is to consume carefully, adopting a mindful approach to growing your wardrobe.
When you do decide to buy, think about where your money is going. Cheap items usually come with a trade-off – whether in quality, ethics or both. AKYN proves that good fashion – though pricier – is worth it for pieces that are thoughtfully made, built to last, and make you feel amazing.
Discover AKYN’s latest collection at treen.
