We had the good fortune of connecting with Akira Robinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Akira, do you disagree with some advice that is more or less universally accepted?
Stay the Course! I understand why this advice is often given in the spirit of “don’t give up”, but in my opinion, those two ideas are conflated. Everyone has a different course, and in fact most people on a entrepreneurial journey or any journey will have a series of decisions to make. I would update this advice and call it “manage and own your decisions” to ensure the message is to think critically about the steps you’re taking, owning the results, and changing course if needed.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
AKI THE LABEL is a fashion brand in the sense that we sell clothes, but we’re also selling a story about the world in which we would want to live. We propagate that story through fashion.

We believe that as humans we’re more alike than we are different, but over the last 5 years especially, it seems as if we as a society have been more focused on using those differences to denigrate as opposed to celebrate.

As the world’s first traveling brand, we will use our beautiful cities and towns across the US and eventually across the world as locations for our collections, with the hope to use local creatives to create, local citizens to inspire, and the location itself to highlight. As more and more collections are launched, more stories will be told and the thread that connects us will become more apparent. It’s a lofty goal, but after 5 years and 15 collections, AKI will hopefully have made a tangible difference.

That’s our mission, but of course, we’re also fashionistos and fashionistas. AKI produces high quality luxury streetwear in LA, and the clothing is meant to be worn anyplace. AKI is focused on clean lines, bold fabrics and colors, and a perfect fit. Even though AKI has its own aesthetic, the garments are meant to be styled to the individuals liking. Flex fashion if you will!

Of course, there have been many challenges in developing and launching AKI THE LABEL. One of the biggest challenges to starting a clothing brand is figuring out the complex machinery it take to even develop one garment, and we launched with 30 SKUs, and now we have 48. My experiences launching pharmaceutical products came into play much more than I expected as we found ways to keep the train moving forward even if it wasn’t clicking on all cylinders, particularly when it comes to prioritizing tactics and tasks.

Another challenge is honestly all of the advice you get, because everyone wears clothes and has an option about it! Learning to sift through the noise, taking on helpful advice and discarding the rest, and staying true to my vision, was sometimes hard to do. Every entrepreneur has doubts, likely everyday, so it can be challenging at times to remain confident in your decisions.

At the moment, AKI is preparing for fall, attending trade shows, with an aspiration to have our products in stores by Spring 2024. Look out for us!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love having visitors to LA! I’m assuming a weekend arrival because you have to start with the fun upon landing at LAX.

Friday – Lunch at Open Face Food Shop on Adams. It’s an amazing Scandinavian inspired restaurant with the absolute best potatoes and if its summer, those tiny shrimp. The atmosphere is chill and great for catching up. After a walk around Culver City, we’d settle in for dinner and drinks at Etta, which is delicious and always a fun time.

Saturday – Santa Monica Farmer’s Market, followed by BBQ/Pool Party at my place. We love to entertain and its a great opportunity for me to smoke my Memphis ribs and have my friend meet the crew in a relaxed and fun environment.

Sunday – Sundays are beach days. We’d drive on PCH though Santa Monica and Malibu before landing at Neptune’s Net for lunch. A quintessential beach shack, this spot serves fresh seafood and you can walk across the street and eat it on the beach. After we’d go for the eagle rock hike in Topanga and spend the afternoon at Will Rogers Beach, making new friends and surfing the waves.

Monday – Let’s throw in some culture and start the day with Dekkadance’s top-notch all you can eat buffet before walking up to the Broad Museum to see the art. After a walk around the arts district, happy hour at the Girl and the Goat will do the trick.

Tuesday – Shopping day! I have a lot of favorite shopping places, but right now, the District La Brea is at the top of my list. It’s filled with a variety of brands, including vintage stores, and as evening hits, food options as well. We’d go to Workshop Kitchen + Bar to absorb the decor and have a bite.

Wednesday – Continuing our culture journey, today is the day for a show, ideally at Pantages. But before, that we’d have early dinner at Tao or Mother Wolf for the food and the scene.

Thursday – We’d grab our bikes, beach gear, and hit the trail. My favorite is the Ballona Creek Bike Path, since it starts in Culver City and you can take a car free ride along the creek all the way to the beach. We’d visit the Fisherman’s Village at the Marina, then set up a picnic on the beach, and enjoy the sunshine.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I dedicate this shoutout to my parents, David Robinson, Jr. and Elaine Robinson. Growing up, they make sure I didn’t impose limits on myself and that I had the chance to spread my wings and try different things at a young age. My mom is no longer with us, but I’ve taken those values with me throughout my life: fearlessness, taking chances, working hard, and being yourself.

Website: www.akithelabel.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aki_thelabel/

Image Credits
Personal photo: https://www.instagram.com/joshakatz/ First 4 photos: https://www.instagram.com/threefivetwofive/ Last 3 photos (bright blue onward): https://www.instagram.com/sylviedamargi_photography/

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