HOLD NYC
designed by Holden Akerley
HOLD NYC exists between day and night; fashion and costume, effortless and complex. We delight in the enigmatic, and celebrate the freedom to dress and live in effortless confidence.
Holden Akerley founded HOLD NYC in 2022, an integral driver of his personal and professional growth. His immersion in the city's queer community and nightlife scene fuels his inspiration to create pieces that allow people to embrace boundless expression of style and individuality for all genders and identities.
Akerley was born in Western Massachusetts, where he spent his formative years in a family of creatives. With parents who were a graphic designer and illustrator, a passion for the visual arts was deeply ingrained in his DNA. This creative household contrasted his fairly Catholic education in his teen years. The uniformity instilled a sense of rebellion against restrictive rules and dress codes. This upbringing shaped his creative path, fueled by curiosity, playfulness and the refusal to conform at the expense of authenticity.
Akerley attended Parsons School of Design and received a BFA in Fashion Design with a focus in menswear. He began his career at Ralph Lauren designing performance outerwear and later designed for Kith. In pursuit of founding his own business, he attended NYU Stern School of Business.
HOLD NYC is a love letter to New York City and is proudly made with its people and its many cultures in mind. We produce the majority of our collection in the heart of the Garment District and strive to promote the craft of the workers there.