Hakan Akkaya Brings Amish Punk
to the FW20 Runway

Words by Ali Roc

We Googled the words “Amish Punk” and got nothing… 

That was until Turkish designer Hakan Akkaya hosted his forty-five look show during NYFW this past weekend at Pier 59 Studios. A fixture on the runways; Akkaya brought Amish, punk and androgyny vibes to his latest fall collection, JUSTICE. The mixed use of Punk Subculture fixtures like patent leather hoods adorned with silver rings and other piercing hardware crafted a story and asked the question (that many designers are asking this year) what defines something as gender-neutral clothing?

Both male and female models adorned the same hoods, skirts and blouses (reminiscent of “The Handmaid’s Tale’) that gave the element of sexiness that the pilgrims didn’t know was possible. Akkaya’s vision was complete and clear, there is empowerment in taking clothes meant to cover and shame the human form.

There were the traditional highlights like the white leather look mini dress, a high waisted pant and a show stopping bar pierced little black dress that would make any priest blush. Long gloves with hardware rings paired with ankle length skirts and platform shoes were the perfect description of “Amish meets Punk”.

Over the years Akkaya’s designs have taken risks; he’s given us rock glam and elegance. This season, he challenges the ideas and shapes of a past time and brought them screaming into the future. We always look forward to a Hakan Akkaya show and this year didn’t disappoint, not even when the designer took his walk down the runway in a lace mask (fashioned on the spot)…

View every look that hit the U shaped runway +