The year is 2005, I’m 8 years old. I had just moved from Osaka, Japan, to Chongqing, China to Boston, Massachusetts. Gripped by fear and anxiety, I quietly observed the cultural differences that made ‘home’ feel so far away. I hesitated to speak my mother tongue (Mandarin) in public, was embarrassed by my "foreign" bento lunch and had a new aspiration: to be seen as “American” as possible. This thought steered me away from my roots, and in that struggle between two worlds, I let go of the very essence of my multi-cultural identity to fit in. 15 years later, AKKI® emerged. An immigrant child's dream: a space for multi-cultural self expression through timeless, bold silhouettes. Following my love for Japan’s “Wabi-Sabi'' philosophy and Asia’s oldest art and textiles, we’ve re-imagined thousands of years of innovation with a personal touch.Every stitch weaves an intricate tapestry of the emotions I wished I had at age 8—hope, resilience, and the courage to embrace my heritage. This is for everyone who wants to celebrate their multicultural heritage and upbringing; only then can we step into our highest selves. “It's bigger than us. It’s bigger than fashion. The most authentic way to push the culture forward is to share your why.” -Akki