Following the announcement of his nomination earlier this year, we're excited to finally share the collection created by our International Creative Director and four-time British Hairdresser of the Year winner.
Featuring strong shapes, precision cutting and Akin's signature creative style, the collection brings together decades of experience with a determination to keep pushing his work forward.
Speaking about the creative direction behind the collection, Akin explains:
“They're not out to shock. Some of them are really quite strong haircuts, but hopefully they're not ugly. I want people to take a second look at them. I want people to turn around and say, 'Wow, that looks mental.' I don't think everybody's going to like it, but the ones that do like it will love it. And that's always my aim when I'm pushing creatively.”
“I hope when people see this collection that they'll recognise it as my work. But at the same time, I want them to be a little bit unsure. I want them to think 'Wow, that's very strong.' I just want to show that creativity doesn't stop just because you're getting older. It doesn't mean that your creativity whittles down. It should actually be improving because it's a continuous progression of where you are. Creativity is something that's so important in progressing and developing ideas. If you haven't got the creativity, then you get stale. So you have to take risks.”
“It's very special to be nominated. The award means so much to me. I mean, it's kind of taken me 10 years to get over not being nominated... and now being nominated again. So it confirms that I'm doing the right thing.”
“When you're up against these fantastic other nominees and they're doing some incredible work, to be the one that wins it is an honour. And if I was to win it for the fifth time, some people might think that's being a little bit greedy, but for me, it's not about winning it again, it's about winning it always. It's just a continuation for me, it's a journey not a destination. So it will be my elation from all of those past wins culminated into one big explosion and be really, really special.”
Akin's passion, creativity and dedication to hairdressing continue to inspire us all at HOB, and this latest collection is another example of why he remains such an influential figure in our industry.
We're incredibly proud to see his work recognised once again and will be cheering him on at the British Hairdressing Awards on 23rd November.
Congratulations on your nomination, Akin. The whole HOB Team is behind you!