Establishment and growth
It was founded in 1934 by Vitali Hakko under the brand name Şen Şapka as a small hat seller in Sultanhamam. In 1937, with his older brother Albert Hakko becoming a partner, Vitali Hakko changed the name of the company to Vakko and established Turkey's first silk dyeing workshop in Kurtuluş, Şişli. After Şen Şapka transformed into Vakko, it started to produce scarves with Turkish silk, cotton and wool. Over time, Vakko turned to ready-to-wear to produce more than hats, scarves, and printed fabrics. Here, customers were introduced for the first time to modern store practices such as bargain-free and promotional sales, and replacement of sold goods.
In 1962, Hakko opened a large 8-storey store, including a cafe and fashion gallery, in Beyoğlu, one of the most important places in Istanbul. In 1969, the first Vakko Factory was built in Merter in a closed area of 40,000 m² and employment was provided. In 1973, the second Vakko store opened in Ankara, and Vakko began to further expand its retail network with the Vakko Boutique sales points it opened one after the other. Six years later, in 1979, the third Vakko store opened in Izmir. There was an increase in the popularity of the Vakko brand with advertising campaigns and fashion shows carried out throughout Turkey.
In 1981, on the 100th birthday of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, a fashion and art show called "Anatolian Sun" was organized, bringing together Anatolian cultures and Western fashion concepts. The show, which was also exhibited in Rome, Vienna, Brussels, Paris, and London on outside Turkey, introduced Vakko in Europe as the representative of contemporary Turkish fashion.
Vakkorama and becoming a world brand
In 1982, Vakkorama, one of Turkey's first youth stores, opened in Taksim, Istanbul. In order to bring New York fashion to Istanbul, Vakkorama introduced a new team called V2K Designers ('V2K Designers') in 2000 with the slogan "Two cities, one brand". Over time, V2K Designers has acquired designers and brands from other fashion cities such as Paris, London and Milan, as well as New York. Today, it is Turkey's first concept store where different world brands meet under the same roof. Creations of other designers and brands such as Rick Owens, Gareth Pugh, Alexander Wang, Hussein Chalayan, Preen, Erdem, Elizabeth & James, Band of Outsider, Rag & Bone are available at V2K Designers.
In 2006, the famous fashion designer Zac Posen's specially interpreted creations for Vakko were introduced under the label "Zac Posen @Vakko". In the same year, world-famous top model Gisele Bündchen became the face of Vakko's campaign. Since 2008, Vakko has been continuing its operations in its new factory, which is headquartered in Merter and spread over an area 2 times the size of its old factory, with screen printing and ready-made clothing production units, logistics facilities, social use areas, and work offices.
In 2010, Vakko Fashion Center, designed by New York-based REX, was opened in Nakkaştepe, consisting of all management units and creative staff offices, as well as showrooms, Vitali Hakko Creative Industries Library, auditorium, gallery and museum. In the same year, Vakko Wedding House Akaretler, which brings together evening dresses, tuxedos, accessories, underwear and hats suitable for all kinds of ceremonies for the bride and groom's families, is opened in a single store. The first culture and arts festival, Istancool, which brought together many famous artists from different disciplines, was held in 2010. Many important names from the fashion and art world were hosted as guests, including the famous style icon Daphne Guinness, hat designer Philip Treacy, and pianist Michael Nyman.
In 2011, Vakko Fashion Center was chosen as the "Best Workspace of the Year" by Wallpaper magazine and the international architecture platform ArchDaily. In the same year, world-famous hat designer Stephen Jones' The Accent of Fashion Exhibition was held at Vakko Fashion Center. . Vakko brought its design line to interior spaces with its new brand Vakko Home. In the same year, Vakko Antalya, Vakko Mersin, Vakko Wedding House Suadiye, Vakko Home Nişantaşı, and Vakko Chocolate Hilton Ankara stores were also opened.
Istancool2012 hosted important names from the fashion and art world, such as French Vogue editor Carine Roitfeld, famous photographer Mario Sorrenti and artist Pınar Yolaçan. In 2012, Vitali Hakko Creative Industries Library was established within Vakko Fashion Vakko Center. This very special place, which is the first library opened on behalf of the Creative Industries in Turkey, has a very large collection of resources published by the world's distinguished publishing houses in the fields of creative industries such as fashion, architecture, painting, design, cinema and music. It is a public library. In the same year, Hartford and Riviera Maison brands were incorporated into Vakko Holding. Vakko has 13 main stores, 35 Boutique Vakko stores, 3 of which are abroad, and 76 Vakko Corners, 10 Vakko Outlets, 2 Vakko Wedding Houses, 2 Vakko Chocolate Boutiques, 2 Vakko Home, 3 Vakko Eşarp Corners spread across Turkey. There are 10 Vakkorama, 2 V2K designers, and 5 Vakkorama H20 stores.
