Modefabriek Meets AKF Agency

As part of our tour along various fashion agencies, we speak with Anita Rijpkema and Karin Otten of AKF Agency in Zwolle this time. January marks exactly two years since they officially launched, at Modefabriek. How are things going, and what are their plans for the upcoming edition?

“That winter Modefabriek in 2024 was truly our kick-off, such a great moment.” The way they complement each other in conversation, they almost seem like twins. “Our journey began as two 17-year-old interns at what was then a leading fashion brand in Amsterdam, driven by curiosity to explore the vibrant fashion world and the big city. Over the years, we witnessed each other’s growth, and our lives seemed to move along the same rhythm. Eventually, we both returned to our roots in the north and east of the country, and suddenly all the puzzle pieces fell into place. It was time to join forces, and here we are: the proud owners of AKF Agency. Two and a half years ago, we visited CIFF and came back with a list of brands we thought, ‘This is missing in the Netherlands,’ and ‘This really fits us.’ Shortly after, we connected with two of the brands we now represent: A-view and La Rōuge. Last year, we added Coster Copenhagen to the portfolio.” AKF Agency is clearly not just a merger of expertise, but also one of passion and enthusiasm.

On the road

You operate from Zwolle. “During selling seasons, we have a showroom there for the main collections. In addition, we travel to our clients with the mid-season collections. That variety is great,you get to speak with the staff, see how the collection is presented in-store, how pieces are styled and combined. When that client later visits the showroom, you can really think along with them. All feedback is valuable. The brands are also very open to our input. Each season, we meet with the designers to discuss what will work well in the Netherlands. Every country is different, so it’s great that they listen carefully to how we want to position the brand here.”

Things are going well, is there room for growth?

“For now, we mainly want to grow with the brands we already have. But if something beautiful comes along, we won’t rule it out. We both genuinely love sales, and we don’t have the ambition to expand in a way that would take us away from what we enjoy most. We’re building step by step, guided by our passion and by what feels right for us.”

“What we love about sales is constantly thinking about where a brand truly fits. Retailers really respond to that enthusiasm. We value client relationships immensely. We’re very much about the personal approach, visiting in person, making a phone call instead of sending an app message. We already do so much through screens these days. It’s not just about collections, but about really getting to know each other and understanding what’s going on. In the end, we’re colleagues and mutually dependent. We do this together.”

AKF Agency at Modefabriek

“At the last edition, we presented all our brands together in one boutique-style stand, with the AKF logo on the wall. This coming January, we’re doing things differently. We’ll be showing A-view and Coster Copenhagen, each with their own stand and distinct identity. Six months ago, we also added CC Heart to our agency, following its merger with Coster Copenhagen. In addition to a strong NOOS program, CC Heart offers a more sharply priced collection, allowing us to position the brand very well in the Dutch market. To clearly communicate this change to our clients, it makes sense to present the brand in its own dedicated stand at Modefabriek. There are still huge opportunities in the Netherlands for both Coster Copenhagen and CC Heart. The brand has the ideal mix: feminine, yet strong and business-ready. A perfect brand in terms of fit, colour palette and price segment.”

“We started working with A-view two years ago, and it’s going very well. It’s a great addition to Dutch retail, the girly, romantic style, combined the way we Dutch like to wear it, for instance with jeans to keep it relaxed and effortless. It really stands out, and the pricing is very strong, making it an accessible entry-level brand. A-view offers both an express collection, available from stock within six weeks, and a pre-order collection. For retailers, that’s ideal. You see fashion week trends online, you get inspired instantly, and you want to offer that in-store right away. A-view delivers exactly that, while also offering plenty of timeless pieces, all catering to a broad age group.”

We’re looking forward to it!