A-K-R-I-S, for those not familiar, is a Swiss fashion house and one of the most understated luxury brands still around. In celebration of the family owned fashion house’s 90th Anniversary, Valerie Steele-Director and Chief Curator of The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology has penned a tome about the fashion house published by Assouline. A-K-R-I-S embodies a discreet charm.
Excerpt from the A-K-R-I-S:
The issue is not simply that women today have careers; there are many companies that produce clothing for work. The issue is: What should women wear if they are leaders in the worlds of business, government, science, and the professions? Many Akris clients fit this profile. As a result, they are constantly in the public spotlight,and they need clothing that commands respect—without being a replica of the traditional masculine business suit. It is undoubtedly challenging for a designer to put aside his ego to focus on his customer’s need for, say, a good suit or an appropriate day dress or a terrific jacket. But Albert Kriemler, Akris’s creative director and co-owner, believes that “Style is all about the woman; it’s about her personality. “She sits in her car, catches a plane, and rushes from one appointment to the other. Our clothes are also versatile. She can feel free to coordinate them with the rest of her wardrobe and make them work in her own way,” says Kriemler. He has even told journalists, “The clothes are incidental. You should notice the woman first, and what she is wearing follows. It should never, ever be the other way around.” This is an aesthetic philosophy aimed at a discerning and confident woman who feels no need to follow trends, preferring the discreet charm of clothing that subtly enhances her appearance and performance.
Anna Wintour, Peter Kriemler, Princess Charlene of Monaco
Daphne Guinness
A-K-R-I-S by Valerie Steele is available for for pre-order through Assouline Publishing online and will be available in stores late August. This is a great tome for a design/ fashion enthusiast and can make for a great holiday or hostess gift as well. Assouline publishes some of THE BEST and most comprehensive fashion books and this new one by Dr. Valerie Steele is no different. The great thing about this book is that Dr. Steele visited the showroom and though the Kriemler family fashion house has been around since 1922, Designer Albert Kreimler has elevated its presence the past 10 years.
Albert Kriemeler was initially going to apprentice with Givenchy when he was asked to step up and design for the fashion house and he’s been doing it ever since. The book explores A-K-R-I-S’s architectural elegance collection from 2005-2010. Akris held a runway show here in Chicago in 2012 at the Modern Wing of the Art Institute.
Cover Photo:Doris Quarella/Fotostiftung Schweiz.
