O L I V I A C U E V A is a forward-thinking creative studio and research lab at the intersection of fashion, biology, sustainability, education, and justice.

We design for a future that is regenerative, playful, and deeply rooted in care—for people and our planet.

Grounded in research, collaboration, and a deep respect for the earth, we craft bold, one-of-a-kind bio fashion and footwear using naturally derived dyes and materials.

Our studio also offers educational experiences, including workshops and public programs, to share knowledge and inspire innovation in bio-fashion technology.

Additionally, we consult with brands, organizations, and individuals, helping them create designs that are not only sustainable but regenerative, ensuring that their work actively contributes to a healthier, more balanced world.

If you're ready to design for a more sustainable future, let’s collaborate and bring that vision to life together.

Olivia Cueva is a multidisciplinary artist, technologist, and community educator working at the intersection of fashion, technology, biology, and storytelling. Her bio textile work has been showcased globally, including at The Future Fabrics Expo in London and the Institute of Advanced Architecture in Barcelona.

With over a decade of experience teaching media, technology, and fashion to youth across the U.S., she previously directed the David E. Glover Emerging Technology Center in Oakland, founding a creative technology studio.

As a bio textile and fashion technologist, Olivia has developed menstrual tech wearables and assistive textiles for elders. She is currently designing naturally dyed bioplastic fashion and footwear that decompose safely back into the earth.

A 2023 graduate of Fabricademy at the Institute of Advanced Architecture in Barcelona, Olivia also holds a Master’s degree from NYU’s Interactive Telecommunications Program and a Bachelor's in broadcast journalism from Brooklyn College. She is based in Oakland, CA (Huichin Territory of the Chochenyo Muwekma Ohlone people).

Education

2023 - Post-Graduate Degree, Fabricademy, Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain

2017 - Master of Professional Studies, Interactive Telecommunications Program (ITP), New York University, New York, NY

2011 - Bachelor of Science in Broadcast Journalism, CUNY - Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY

Organizational Leadership

 2021 - Present

Co-Founder, Oakland Style Lab, Oakland, CA

Solo Exhibitions

2024

All Land is Holy, Dream Farm Commons, Oakland, CA

Group Exhibitions

2023

Future Fabrics Expo 2023, London, UK

End of the Year Exhibition, Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain

2021

Town Style Vol.1, Oakland Style Lab, Oakland, CA

2020

Patch Pulse, Gray Area, San Francisco, CA

2019

Sub Helix, Sama Collective & Macrowaves, Oakland, CA

Awards / Fellowships / Residencies

2024

Leonardo Teaching Artist Residency, Amman, Jordan

CERF+ Get Ready Grant

Dream Farm Commons Artist Residency, Oakland, CA

2023

Processing Foundation Finalist Grant, New York, NY

2022

Design Justice Fellow @ the David E. Glover Emerging Technology Center, Oakland CA

2021

Gray Area’s Zachary Watson Memorial Education Grant, San Francisco, CA

Publications

2023

Cueva, O; Kelley, S; Zazaboi, Z. “Other Worlds”, Keek Magazine, Issue 01, March 2023

Press 

2024 - Chazaro, Alan. “A Popular Oakland Sneaker Shop Returns — With a Twist”, KQED, June 4, 2024

2023 - Dobreva. N.“Forever and Ever? Not When it comes to Fluuuid Fashion”, Fablab BCN Blog, April 4, 2023. 

2018 - Harshaw, P.  “Teaching Technology in Oakland, a Revolutionary Act,” KQED, Aug 6, 2018