The translation of the text «История Джона Имаха: от музыки до модной технологии» into English is: «The Story of John Imakh: From Music to Fashion Technology»
17 june 2026 в 22:37
John Imakh understands that the public version of his life may seem too perfect: a founder of a fashion technology company, a regular guest at the Met Gala, the CEO of a company valued at $ 1.5 billion, a person whose Instagram bio reads, «Rarely where you expect». The real version, he insists, is much more complex than can fit into a headline.
He is a Nigerian-American entrepreneur, a former employee of a major tech company, a musician, a car collector, and the co-founder and CEO of SPREEAI—a fashion technology company developing photorealistic virtual fittings, intelligent size matching, and personalization for retailers. According to Inc., SPREEAI reached a valuation of $ 1.5 billion in 2025 after raising nearly $ 100 million, with partners including Sergio Hudson and Kai Collective.
This is a business story. The more interesting story of Imakh lies in what is hidden behind it: discipline, taste, a desire for privacy, and that part of him that resembles a schoolboy from Dallas more than a founder photographed at major fashion events.
When asked about the most unexpected thing in his life, he does not choose the obvious answer. Not cars. Not red carpets. Not the company’s valuation.
«I play the French horn», - he says. «Seriously, the French horn, trumpet, and piano».
He knows that this answer surprises people. On the outside, Imakh’s life appears to be a world of fashion photography, sports cars, board meetings, and technology. But music, he says, is where the noise quiets down. Playing the piano allows him to slow down. The French horn and trumpet connect him to a younger version of himself, one focused on rehearsals rather than publicity.
«Music has always been the other side of my brain», - he says. «Technology and fashion get all the press, but music is where I can actually calm down and think».
This becomes clear when he explains. SPREEAI, at its core, is about both precision and feeling. The company’s product allows customers to see clothing on themselves rather than on a model who may look completely different. The product page describes the platform as a way to display the customer’s face, body, and proportions in seconds, without an avatar or scanning. This is engineering. But the emotional promise is much more familiar: people want to know if something suits them before they buy it.
Imakh talks about style in the same way. For him, clothing is not just an adornment. It is a means of communication.
Fashion, according to Imakh, began with his mother.
«She had an incredible sense of style, and she passed that on to me in a way that became deeper than just clothing», - he says. «It became how I communicate about myself without saying a word».
His mother passed away from breast cancer, and Imakh is careful when discussing how much his style still belongs to her influence. She taught him that dressing can be an act of respect, not just self-expression. Respect for oneself. Respect for others. Respect for the moment.
This idea accompanies him in the fashion world, where tech founders sometimes appear as outsiders in borrowed clothes. Imakh does not look that way. He seems to understand clothing even before the camera captures it.
At the 2026 Met Gala, he worked with designer Charles Harbison to create a custom champagne-colored outfit inspired by the evening’s costume art theme, his Nigerian heritage, and his experience in technology. According to Inc., the ensemble included a double-breasted jacket, a vest with gold embellishments, and a long evening cloak.
Imakh describes the idea more simply: «We wanted it to feel like a platinum plate and a West African king decided to collaborate».
He is aware of the symbolism but does not strive to make the look resemble a costume. For him, what matters is not that technology has entered fashion. What matters is that fashion and technology have never been separate in his life.
«It has never been either/or», - he says. «Both aspects have always been completely natural»
He is a Nigerian-American entrepreneur, a former employee of a major tech company, a musician, a car collector, and the co-founder and CEO of SPREEAI—a fashion technology company developing photorealistic virtual fittings, intelligent size matching, and personalization for retailers. According to Inc., SPREEAI reached a valuation of $ 1.5 billion in 2025 after raising nearly $ 100 million, with partners including Sergio Hudson and Kai Collective.
This is a business story. The more interesting story of Imakh lies in what is hidden behind it: discipline, taste, a desire for privacy, and that part of him that resembles a schoolboy from Dallas more than a founder photographed at major fashion events.
When asked about the most unexpected thing in his life, he does not choose the obvious answer. Not cars. Not red carpets. Not the company’s valuation.
«I play the French horn», - he says. «Seriously, the French horn, trumpet, and piano».
He knows that this answer surprises people. On the outside, Imakh’s life appears to be a world of fashion photography, sports cars, board meetings, and technology. But music, he says, is where the noise quiets down. Playing the piano allows him to slow down. The French horn and trumpet connect him to a younger version of himself, one focused on rehearsals rather than publicity.
«Music has always been the other side of my brain», - he says. «Technology and fashion get all the press, but music is where I can actually calm down and think».
This becomes clear when he explains. SPREEAI, at its core, is about both precision and feeling. The company’s product allows customers to see clothing on themselves rather than on a model who may look completely different. The product page describes the platform as a way to display the customer’s face, body, and proportions in seconds, without an avatar or scanning. This is engineering. But the emotional promise is much more familiar: people want to know if something suits them before they buy it.
Imakh talks about style in the same way. For him, clothing is not just an adornment. It is a means of communication.
Fashion, according to Imakh, began with his mother.
«She had an incredible sense of style, and she passed that on to me in a way that became deeper than just clothing», - he says. «It became how I communicate about myself without saying a word».
His mother passed away from breast cancer, and Imakh is careful when discussing how much his style still belongs to her influence. She taught him that dressing can be an act of respect, not just self-expression. Respect for oneself. Respect for others. Respect for the moment.
This idea accompanies him in the fashion world, where tech founders sometimes appear as outsiders in borrowed clothes. Imakh does not look that way. He seems to understand clothing even before the camera captures it.
At the 2026 Met Gala, he worked with designer Charles Harbison to create a custom champagne-colored outfit inspired by the evening’s costume art theme, his Nigerian heritage, and his experience in technology. According to Inc., the ensemble included a double-breasted jacket, a vest with gold embellishments, and a long evening cloak.
Imakh describes the idea more simply: «We wanted it to feel like a platinum plate and a West African king decided to collaborate».
He is aware of the symbolism but does not strive to make the look resemble a costume. For him, what matters is not that technology has entered fashion. What matters is that fashion and technology have never been separate in his life.
«It has never been either/or», - he says. «Both aspects have always been completely natural»
© Puhova Marina
