Unit Studio: The Best Comes in Threes
Left to Right: Michael South, Kaelan Peña-Rolla, Quinten Eli Oxender
In a quiet, tucked-away studio in Brooklyn, New York, three young creatives rooted initially in architecture are stitching together more than just garments; they’re sewing a bigger vision than anyone can fully comprehend. Unit Studio, a cut-and-sew brand founded by Michael South and Quinten Eli Oxender, emerged not from a business plan, but a shared want and need. “We were broke students who couldn’t afford the clothes we wanted,” Michael recalls, “so we made them.” That DIY spirit, cultivated in the tight-knit architecture studios of Pratt Institute, sparked a brand where every piece tells a story.
From their early days, thrifting and upcycling old clothes into new silhouettes, UNIT has evolved into a small yet massive operation. Their ethos, design for the individual but always as part of a collective, lives in their name. “A unit can be a whole, or a part of something larger,” Quinten says. “That duality is what we design for.” It’s not just about clothes, it’s about connection, with one another and the environment.
All three members balance full-time jobs while managing Unit. Michael and their latest team member, Kaelan Peña-Rolla, work to keep Unit’s production humming, whether piecing materials together or strategizing a new drop. On the other hand, Quinten thrives on material sourcing and pushing functional aesthetics, but still contributes heavily to the Unit mission and vision. Kaelan helps steer operations and brand cohesion, ensuring drops stay as thoughtful as they are handmade. “We’re all hands-on,” Kaelan says. “We cut, we sew, we dye. Every piece is touched by us.”
Their most recent drop, a rugged, detail-rich capsule built with military-grade deadstock, feels like a declaration of intent. Designed for both commuters and adventurers, it bridges city grit with natural resilience. “Form follows function,” Michael notes. “You should look cool, but it should work for you, too.”
Still, Unit remains small by choice. “We don’t want to overproduce,” Quinten explains. “We want our clothes to feel personal, not like they’re part of a trend cycle.” That ethos carries through everything, from sizing solutions to their improvisational dye nights before a drop. What binds them is trust, chemistry, and a shared design language honed through years of creative collaboration.
For anyone trying to balance passion with practicality, Unit’s message is clear: just make. “Don’t be afraid to lose a little sleep,” Quinten offers. “Your future self will thank you.”
With each stitch, they’re building more than a brand; they’re building a blueprint for what fashion can be when it’s rooted in purpose and process.
