Indian fashion designer Arjun Khanna debuted AKOG, a new concept that will introduce limited edition collections of handcrafted denim.
The collection is born from “Ancient Future Vintage,” a philosophy the designer says reflects his reverence for the past and a relentless commitment to craftsmanship.
“Denim is not just a material. It is a map of human movement, culture, and evolution. Every piece of denim and workwear carries the story of the people who wore it: miners who built industry, soldiers who fought in battle, workers who shaped cities, the rebels who changed the world. It belongs to everyone,” he said. “AKOG’s commitment is to extend that story. To add a new chapter without erasing the old ones. To honor what came before while creating something that has never existed.”
The first collection, called Lot 1, comprises 120 one-of-one pieces spanning shirts, jackets and accessories. Each garment is handmade at the designer’s atelier in Mumbai using deadstock selvedge denim from Kaihara Mills in Japan and Candiani Denim in Italy. Vintage U.S. military fatigues and canvas and fabrics from Vietnam are also incorporated into designs.
Japanese Boro patchwork, Sashiko stitching, Kantha hand-embroidery, hand painting, and other artisanal methods passed down through generations add to the garments’ uniqueness and overall time-worn look and feel.
While AKOG is rooted in men’s wear, the collection offers pieces for different body types—some exclusively for women, others designed to be worn by anyone. Hero pieces include six-layer Boro patchwork jackets and denim fiber-fused vests.
A private denim, workwear and military clothing archive served as the inspiration for several pieces. The archive spans hundreds of vintage pieces, including early Levi’s and Lee editions and garments worn by miners, bikers and soldiers.
Khanna’s love for denim began in the ’80s when he was a student in London, saving up for his first pair of Levi’s 501 jeans. “I vividly remember that moment—the weight of those jeans in my hands, the pride of finally owning them. I didn’t just buy denim. I embraced a dream,” he said.
To Khanna, the jeans represented something more than fashion. “The rebellious spirit of Steve McQueen, the raw magnetism of James Dean, the untamed energy of Elvis Presley, the timeless elegance of Ralph Lauren—they all lived in that fabric. It wasn’t until years later that I truly understood what I was holding: not just clothing, but history, culture, and soul stitched into every thread,” he said.
