A new streetwear collaboration between Oatly and Kids of Immigrants puts some steam behind barista workwear.
Baristas are rarely centered in fashion narratives, despite their role in shaping the rituals and visual language of contemporary coffee culture. But that gap has drawn Oatly, the popular Swedish oat milk brand, and Los Angeles fashion label Kids of Immigrants together in Pour Into Others, a limited-edition barista workwear capsule designed explicitly for life behind the counter.
The collection launches alongside Pourtraits, a portrait-led campaign that features real working baristas from cafés in Los Angeles and New York, including Cafe Tropical, Palm Grove Social, and Heavy Water Coffee in Los Angeles, as well as Oslo Coffee Roasters, Cafe Bureau, and Flowers on the Park in New York City. Shot in their actual workplaces, the images frame baristas as cultural contributors rather than background figures — people whose presence shapes neighborhood identity as much as the drinks they serve.
For Oatly, the collaboration builds on a long relationship with the coffee community that has been central to its growth. “This one’s simple,” said Michael Lee, Executive Creative Director of Oatly North America. “Oatly wouldn’t be Oatly without baristas. We’re obsessed with coffee, but even more obsessed with the creative, multi-faceted people who make up the industry. This workwear line is about recognizing baristas – not just for the drinks they make, but for the culture and community they create. So here’s something for them.”
The $165 Barista Chore Jacket is made from sturdy canvas and designed for actual shifts, with hammer loops sized to secure a dish towel mid-rush and oversized pockets large enough to hold a bike lock. The $85 crossbody messenger bag functions as a practical daily carry for baristas moving between work and city life, while the $40 barista cap offers a straightforward, work-ready staple. A KOI x Oatly dishcloth set rounds out the capsule, elevating one of the most essential tools of the trade into a considered design object.
For Kids of Immigrants, the project reflects how the label typically operates. The brand has built its reputation on small-batch releases, storytelling-led design, and collaborations rooted in lived experience rather than trend cycles.
In this case, that approach translated into a process shaped by direct conversations with baristas and repeated testing behind the counter, allowing use — not concept — to guide final decisions. The result is a tightly scoped collection that prioritizes function and narrative over scale.
The collaboration also carries a community component. A portion of proceeds from Pour Into Others will be donated to Inclusive Action, a Los Angeles–based nonprofit and certified Community Development Financial Institution that supports underinvested communities through small business lending, coaching, and advocacy for street vendors and local entrepreneurs.
The collection is available exclusively online at the Kids of Immigrants website.
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