AKKI debuts at New York Fashion Week
AKKI just debuted its first full collection at NYFW, and it was magical. This is one of the most beautiful and thoughtful fashion presentations I’ve ever witnessed — watch below to see the finale where you’ll see every look from AKKI’s FW26 collection, accompanied by the sound of a stunning live piano performance by Eunike Tanzil.
AKKI’s FW26 collection took inspiration from ‘Iris Garden at Horikiri’ by Japanese woodblock print master Utagawa Hiroshige. The presentation was conceived as a narrative arc, and it traces a journey from seed to bloom. “This progression mirrors Zhao’s own development across Osaka, Chongqing, and New York, each place shaping the designer’s identity and creative language,” AKKI’s press release states.
Key design elements of the new collection include Chinese brocade paired with open seam construction, Japanese pleating techniques, and a recurring sculptural “S” shape that “functions as a subtle symbol of yin and yang, referencing duality and balance: East and West, past and present, softness and structure.”
The collection also features heritage detailing with real jade stones, freshwater pearls, porcelain buttons repurposed from antique Chinese vases, silk-tied bows, and knitwear crafted from Japanese washi paper yarn.
Explore the full collection below (photos courtesy of AKKI).
