In 2002, AKIRA opened the doors of its first ever women's clothing boutique in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood. Since then, the company has extended its reach to 18 city-wide locations and an online fashion emporium. Thanks to its full line of men's and women's clothes, footwear and accessories as well as its packed roster of celebrity-studded special events, AKIRA is a major player on the Windy City's fashion scene. The high-profile exposure, as well as ShopAKIRA.com's expansion, and AKIRA's forthcoming stores outside Chicagoland, will go far to build a national reputation for the brand.