VIA Times Filipino American Lifestyle and Culture in the Greater Chicago Area
Jon Cotay, age 40, is a fashion retail expert, entrepreneur, and philanthropist based in Chicago. After moving from his native Philippines to the U.S. at age 12, Cotay received his B.S. in Nursing at the University of Illinois. In 2002, he co-founded AKIRA, a women’s clothing boutique. Since then, AKIRA has grown into a lifestyle and events empire with an 18-store chain and an international e-tail website (www.ShopAKIRA.com).
Cotay’s savvy in real estate has been instrumental in growing AKIRA’s stores across Chicagoland, with locations including Bucktown, Lincoln Park, Andersonville, Block 37, State Street, Water Tower, Hyde Park, Orland Square, Woodfield, Old Orchard, Hawthorn, Fox Valley, and Southlake. In addition to its brick & mortar boutiques with their famous red awnings, AKIRA is well-known for its host of fashion shows, parties, and charity events in the city. These events are all executive-produced by Cotay and include AKIRA’s fall fashion show charity benefit, recognized as a Top Chicago Event by BizBash Magazine.
In 2014, Jon was honored as one of Asian Americans Advancing Justice’s Milestone Makers and a new member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), a global leadership network. The year prior, Jon served as a judge for the Chinatown Chamber of Commerce’s Miss Friendship Ambassador Pageant and was featured in a CS Chicago Socialarticle on AKIRA’s “Fashion Smarts.” He also led a workshop attended by 100 guests at the University of Illinois’ FACT (Filipino Americans Coming Together) Conference and was named to the second spot on New City Magazine’s list of “Design 50: Who Shapes Chicago.” In addition, he served as a special guest speaker at the Executives Breakfast Club, an organization that unites Chicago’s leading business minds. In 2012, Jon made it onto Michigan Avenue Magazine’s list of “Chicago’s 12 Most Noteworthy Men” and served on NEXT Fashion Chicago’s host committee. In 2011, Jon was honored as one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ “40 Under 40” and one of Michigan Avenue Magazine’s “Cause Celebs: Top Philanthropists.” He was also named to the Filipino-American 2011 Hall of Fame and included in MR Magazine’s Contemporary Roundtable.
In previous years, he has served as co-chair of Chicago Gateway Green’s famous Green Tie Ball and as a judge for “One Man Chicago.” He was also the 2009 recipient of MR Magazine’s Uptown Downtown award. Jon is a proud annual supporter of Latino Fashion Week, which awarded him the Business Catalyst award in 2010, Kollaboration Chicago, the Chicago Fashion Foundation, Generation Y, STARTALK, Miss Wicker Park, and the Driehaus Design Initiative, serving as the fashion students’ mentor.
He also champions a variety of charitable causes. In the wake of 2013’s devastating Typhoon Haiyan, he spearheaded two fundraisers that funded the safe transport of 9 tons of relief goods to the Philippines. Over the years, he has organized AKIRA events to benefit non-profits including PAWS Chicago, YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, Imerman Angels, the American Diabetes Association, the Illinois Safe Schools Alliance, CASL (Chinese-American Service League), TAP-Chicago (Chicago Taiwanese American Professionals), the Wounded Warrior Project, Make-a-Wish, the Wade’s World Foundation, March of Dimes, Korean American Community Services, and the Human Rights Campaign. In his 12-year career with AKIRA, he has played an instrumental role in giving back to over 200 local & national charities.
Cotay serves as a source expert on the fashion and retail industry for media outlets including Women’s Wear Daily, WBEZ, WGN TV, NBC Chicago, Telemundo, FOX Chicago, The Chicago Sun-Times, and more.
