Duke Akiba

Duke Akiba is a knitwear designer based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Originally born and raised in the suburbs of Tokyo, Japan, he moved to the United States shortly after college and established his career as a project manager in the automotive, IT and banking industries.

Although his mother is an avid knitter, Duke didn't start knitting until 2010 when the harsh Detroit winter drove him to seek refuge in something calming — he learned to crochet some years later. In 2019 he released his first design under the designer name 'Duke of Nikko', and his publication debut came in December 2020 when his Midori Hat design was included in Issue Eight of Nomadic Knits.

In terms of techniques, Duke enjoys colourwork knitting and is especially interested in incorporating his Japanese heritage and LGBTQ+ identity in his designs. His patterns are available from the Duke of Nikko's Ravelry Store.