Akay Shiraze had a “look and a vision” for his fashion career.
In 1985, after graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Akay apprenticed under Benny Pepper, designer for Adolfo Couture, catering to celebrities such as First Lady Nancy Reagan. In the ensuing years, Akay continued to perfect his craft while working for renowned designer Searle Blatt. He assisted teams of designers, oversaw product development, and ran his retail offices in New York.
In 1992, Akay created his first brand. The AK NY Collection began the design and development of high-end outerwear and couture suits which sold to all major retailers in the industry. The AK NY Collection also became specialized in the use of faux fur. He created a collection of man-made fashion fur—the “evolutionary furs”—and renounced the killing of animals. Akay stuck by his word, introducing microfiber furs in 1999, a synthetic material that retained the feel, warmth, and fashion of real fur.
In 1994, Akay worked with his mentor, Oleg Cassini, a fashion legend who specialized in couture fashion, designing for such celebrities as Grace Kelly, Jean Turner, and Jacqueline Kennedy. Akay also developed some of the first outerwear collections for Russell Simmons’ brand, Baby Phat. He later purchased the outerwear brand Denali for his house brand. The Denali brand, named after the tallest peak in North America, specialized in full collections of outerwear for men, women, and children.
By 2005, Akay saw a need in the fashion design industry. There were a lot of fashion houses that were not maximizing profits due to high overhead affecting quality. Brands compromised the costs and materials. Akay had an epiphany. He knew there had to be a better way. Akay envisioned a single fashion house that would guide its partners from creative design right through to the showroom. Akay saw The Look Inc.
In 2005, the visionary expanded his operations overseas, starting the company APG-ASIA in Shanghai, China, a full-service design house that specialized in sourcing, design, photography, production, and merchandising, cutting costs and adding value to the client’s apparel products. Brand customers included Anne Klein, Baby Phat, DKNY, Miss Sixty, Reebok, True Religion, Mizuno, G-Star, Puma, and Michael Kors. Licensed brands included clients such as Billy Idol, Bon Jovi, Carlos Santana, Mötley Crüe, and Led Zeppelin.
In 2007, Akay co-founded Compassion Aspen, wanting to make a difference by “moving mountains, opening hearts and changing lives.” Compassion Aspen is a philanthropic non-profit organization dedicated to funding programs that provide direct access to services and treatments for people with disabilities.
In 2009, Akay founded The Look Inc., the Made in USA design house that provides creative custom design, pattern making, sample development, fabric sourcing, fashion photography, and apparel production. A force of nature, Akay brings his brilliant artistry and contagious energy to every step of the brand’s creation, from inception all the way through manufacturing at The Look’s plant in Los Angeles.
In 2018, Akay Shiraze encountered a profound turning point in his life, spurred by the passing of his father, who had been a pivotal figure in his professional and personal growth. This loss awakened a spiritual dimension within Akay, inspiring him to pivot towards practices that honor and protect the earth. As his daughter Zoe’s enthusiasm for the fashion realm blazed to life, Akay surrendered to his own truth, recognizing the flame of her passion. In this act of accepttance, he stepped aside, allowing her to forge her path in the fashion industry with heartfelt compassion.
Embracing the energy and legacy of his father, Akay relocated to Texas, where he ventured into the realm of interior design and construction with The Look Management. This enterprise, along with The Look Warranty, The Look Cabinetry, The Look Fabricating, and The Look Himalayan, represented a new chapter in his career, grounded in the ethos of compassion and environmental consciousness. With every sale, Akay pledged to plant a tree, reinforcing his commitment to giving back to the planet.
The Look Management’s latest venture, a collaboration with Samin’s Arden, epitomizes Akay’s innovative spirit. Announced on January 22, 2024, the joint venture celebrates a groundbreaking initiative to harvest pink salt from the Himalayas. This joint venture introduces a unique line of products, including salt bricks and the “Cube of Clarity,” that promise not only aesthetic beauty and structural robustness but also a promise to cherish and conserve our natural world. Akay Shiraze, once a stalwart of fashion, now stands as a champion of sustainable design, honoring his father’s legacy and nurturing the earth with every creative endeavor.
In 2024, Akay set forth to fuse his father’s Persian heritage with his mother’s Burmese roots,embarking on an endeavor to harmonize Middle Eastern fashion influences with Western sartorial principles. This led to the birth of “A New Collection: East Meets the West,” a brand that encapsulates a cultural tapestry woven with threads of tradition and modernity, designed to celebrate and unite diverse aesthetic philosophies.
His unwavering dedication to fashion and compassion has become the cornerstone of his life’s work, culminating in this distinctive collection. Akay has committed to donating 10% of the proceeds to address some of the most pressing humanitarian crises of our time. This contribution supports a range of causes, from aiding innocent children and individuals with disabilities, to assisting those grappling with mental health challenges and PTSD. Through this initiative, Akay continues to weave a legacy of benevolence and empathy into the very fabric of his work.
Akay’s personal and professional ethos is encapsulated in a guiding philosophy that shapes his existence and the essence of his company. It is a commitment to sparking creativity by tapping into the source of vision, embracing life’s truths with compassion, and cherishing the present moment with a heart full of gratitude. He meets each client with humility, understanding the significance of genuine interactions. This philosophy not only stands as the DNA of his company but also as the bedrock of his enduring legacy.