Our Mission

RHIZOME was founded in 2024 to expand the impact and potential of the educational and creative mission driven programs at INTERFORM. By connecting real world opportunities to the development and growth of our students and participants, we hope to build a robust and self supporting ecosystem that redefines the modes of production for fashion in the United States.

Brought together by the vision of the co-founders, Robin Atkinson and Richard Cotto, RHIZOME is meant to be the support structure that connects creatives to the market. We have seen time and again that designers in the United States are hindered by a lack of access to high quality, timely, and skilled manufacturing capacity. Our work at INTERFORM has allowed us to bridge many of the gaps seen across the industry, and in doing so create both economic opportunity for our students and participants, but also market access and brand growth to our creative partners and established brands alike.

Our Team

  • Robin Atkinson

    Founder and Principal

    Robin Wallis Atkinson is the founder and CEO of INTERFORM, an evolution from its origins as NWA Fashion Week and Arkansas Arts & Fashion Forum. Atkinson's career in the arts began in Northwest Arkansas in the early 2000s. A key figure in the founding of Art Amiss Inc., she has been a driving force in the regional arts scene for over two decades. She holds a BA in Art History from the University of Arkansas and a Masters in Curatorial Studies from Bard College's Center for Curatorial Studies in New York. Her curatorial achievements are extensive, including a role on the team of Prospect.1 New Orleans, the largest international contemporary art biennial in the U.S., teaching at Bard Early College in Manhattan, a fellowship at the Van Abbemuseum in the Netherlands, and involvement in numerous traveling exhibitions across Asia and Europe.

    Since returning to Arkansas, Atkinson has rejuvenated NWA Fashion Week (2016), emphasizing inclusivity and representation in the arts. Her leadership exemplifies commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Atkinson's innovative thinking led to the creation of a mask-making campaign, producing over 25,000 face masks for the local community. This initiative marked the beginning of a new chapter for INTERFORM in sewn trades production, culminating in the founding of RHIZOME, a for-profit apparel manufacturing subsidiary, in 2024. Recognized as a member of the NWA Business Journal’s 40 under 40 club in 2021, and securing a significant grant from the Walton Family Foundation in 2022, she has been instrumental in scaling INTERFORM’s sewn trades programs, aiming to revitalize apparel manufacturing in the heartland.

  • Richard Cotto

    Founder and Managing Director

    Born and raised in San Juan Puerto Rico, Richard pursued an Associates and a Bachelors in Fashion and Design. Even before culminating his professional degrees his technical expertise passed down from familiar generations and avant-garde design aesthetics earned him recognitions in major magazines like Ocean Drive and HOLA. Shortly after graduating Richard had the opportunity to work along prominent design houses and manufacturing facilities in the Island, something that sparked an interest for manufacturing and the technical side of the apparel world. In 2014 he moved to the United States to complete his Masters with a concentration in Arts and Apparel Design. Living by the philosophy of “dare to be deviant from the norm” his design aesthetic has evolved and transformed in the search for understanding the human body in order to create a gender/queer design line that encompasses structure, intent and empowerment. His approach to fashion has given him the opportunity to show his work in some of the biggest fashion week platforms in the USA and South America. In 2016 Richard decided to join apparel Corporate America in the search for that technical spark that came to be back in Puerto Rico. Since then his professional career has been focused not only in design but in every area of the product lifecycle; from product development, technical design and pattern making to supply chain, logistics and production for companies and clients like Dillards, Under Armour, and New Balance to mention a few.

  • Sikitu Mbuto

    Manufacturing Operator

    Sikitu is originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo but has been living in Arkansas since 2018. She began sewing courses at INTERFORM in 2020 and joined the team as an apprentice in 2022. She continue to hone her skills through educational courses, has participated as a designer in runway shows, and works full time as an operator for manufacturing at RHIZOME.

  • Gina Janer

    Repair Lead and Manufacturing Operator

    Gina Janer is originally from the Marshall Islands but has been living in Springdale, AR since 2006. Gina began sewing classes at INTERFORM in 2018 and has participated in courses from Beginners. Advanced, and Fashion Design. She has participated as both a designer and model in the NWA Fashion Week runway shows. Since 2022 Gina has been the lead operator in charge of our repair department, and is almost solely responsible for all of the Rapha repairs that come through our workshop. her work is a leader in quality and has set the bar for other repair shops around the world.

  • Savannah Poulos

    Product Development Executive

  • Rulli Torres

    Production and Manufacturing Executive

Our Values

  • We nurture creativity in every aspect of our operations, relentlessly seeking innovative methods to enhance our support for clients and drive transformative change in the apparel industry.

  • We are committed to democratizing access to apparel services, ensuring that professional design, product development, and small-batch manufacturing are within reach for startups and small to medium-sized apparel brands.

  • We conduct our business with honesty, transparency, and unwavering integrity, fostering trust with our clients, partners, and stakeholders.

  • We value the strength of collaboration, working closely with clients, suppliers, and our community to achieve common goals and shared success.

  • We strive to empower both our clients and employees, equipping them with the tools, resources, and support needed to unlock their full potential and achieve their goals.

  • We strive to revolutionize perceptions of sewn trades labor and apparel manufacturing by emphasizing the essential contributions of skilled tradespeople. Every item we create is a testament to their expertise and craftsmanship, deserving of the highest respect and recognition.

    At RHIZOME, we are committed to elevating the status of these artisans, ensuring that their invaluable work is celebrated and appreciated in the industry and beyond.

 Our Process

At RHIZOME, we transform your ideas into high-quality products through a streamlined, collaborative process:

  • We begin by immersing ourselves in your vision, conducting in-depth discussions and market research to fully understand and capture your concept.

  • Our talented designers craft initial sketches and design proposals, refining them through your feedback until the concept perfectly aligns with your vision.

  • We bring your concept to life by selecting fabrics, creating detailed patterns, and developing prototypes. We incorporate your feedback to ensure the design meets all technical specifications.

  • Our adaptable manufacturing process features precise cutting, sewing, and rigorous quality control.

    We accommodate custom orders and modifications, with low to no minimum order quantities to suit virtually any client.

  • We perform comprehensive quality inspections to guarantee excellence. Your products are then meticulously packaged and shipped, with tracking information provided for your convenience.