Akris
AKRIS is a Swiss fashion house specializing in luxury goods for women designed by creative director Albert Kriemler. Foundation. Akris is a company that was founded in 1922 by Alice Kriemler-Schoch in St. Gallen, Switzerland; the word "Akris" was derived from the letters of Kriemler-Schoch's name. The company initially made simple dotted aprons that were crafted by Kriemler-Schoch on a single sewing machine. Each piece is still designed in Switzerland and the Swiss dot (polka dot) is still used by the company on gift boxes and tissue paper, as well as the logo of the  Akris Punto line 7. In 1944, Kriemler-Schoch's son Max Kriemler took over the business. The company grew significantly and began producing ready-to-wear clothing. Following the lead of Max Kriemler, Akris also produced clothes for French designers Givenchy and Ted Lapidus. However, in 1980, Max Kriemler's right-hand man died. Though Max's son Albert Kriemler had planned to travel to Paris to study fashion and apprentice at Givenchy, Max asked Albert to postpone his education for two years to assist in the company's transition. He agreed. Albert could never complete his fashion education; within  those two years, he had already begun to take over the company. Peter Kriemler, Albert's brother, joined Akris in 1987 after studies at St. Gallen University on law and economy to head its financial side. Peter is now Akris's global CEO, handling management and manufacturing. Peter Kriemler is credited with bringing the Akris collection to Asia with subsidiaries in Japan and Korea, as well as developing the worldwide network of directly operated stores. Since 2004, the Akris collection has been shown during Paris fashion week - the only Swiss house in the Fédération française de la couture, du Prêt -à-Porter des Couturiers et des Créateurs de Mode. Collections. Akris is a collection of sleek, refined, and versatile pieces, designed in clear architectural lines, with exceptional fabrics, body conscious tailoring and sophisticated colors. Albert Kriemler has gained a strong following by creating a fashion collection for career-oriented women around the world. Artists and architects have inspired his designs or have collaborated directly with him. In 1996, Akris introduced a new line called Akris Punto. The Akris Punto collection has an emphasis on "relaxed sportswear". In 2009, Akris expanded its Prêt-a-Porter offering with the introduction of handbags  featuring animal-friendly horsehair textile, a woven fabric made from the tail-hair. In 1996, Akris was admitted to the French Chambre Syndicale, the governing body of the French fashion industry. The company delayed participating in Paris Fashion Week until 2004, when it was able to secure a spot on one of the event's most important days. In the 2000s, the company was one of the world's fastest-growing designer brands, selling at stores such as Bergdorf Goodman and Neiman Marcus., where Akris shares floor space with brands like Bottega Veneta, Fendi and Lanvin. Akris's success is  largely due to trunk shows and word of mouth; the company does very little advertising. Unlike other fashion houses, the company does not produce fragrances and does not license its name. Akris have a reputation for working with artists. Two notable examples have been a collaboration with the German photographer Thomas Ruff and separately the British painter David Wightman. Campaigns. Renowned photographer Steven Klein has shot the Akris collections for fifteen years. Sales and stores. Akris is the largest Swiss clothing producer, though it does not disclose sales or profit figures. Its value has been reported as approximately US$500  million; the company has not disputed this figure, but the number may be an overestimate "judging from [Albert] Kriemler's response when that number is tossed out. The brand is sold in more than 300 locations worldwide. Approximately 40% of Akris sales are in North America. Akris was first sold in the United States in 1988; the brand can now be found in 70 U.S. stores, including over 20 Neiman Marcus locations and 30-some Saks Fifth Avenue locations, where Akris shares floor space with brands like Bottega Veneta, Fendi and Lanvin. Freestanding Akris boutiques are located in Boston, New  York City, Atlanta, Palm Beach, Bal Harbor, Dallas and Houston. Akris Punto is sold in approximately 100 stores in the United States. Celebrities. Several female celebrities are known to have worn Akris designs, including Amal Clooney, HSH Charlene, Princess of Monaco, Tina Fey, Susan Sarandon, Doris Yaffe, Shakira, Alicia Keys, Angelina Jolie, Diane Sawyer and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. Garment production. The company's headquarters are located in St. Gallen, Switzerland with 200 employees. The design process begins with the fabric; Kriemler then sketches his designs. Akris fabrics are often custom-produced; sometimes, development of a fabric may  take years. Most of the fabrics used in Akris clothing are produced in specialized mills in northern Italy. Akris clothing is generally produced in ateliers in St. Gallen, Zurich, and Ticino, Switzerland. Kriemler has aimed to continue St. Gallen's textile-based history by hiring local artisans. About half of the company's 280 manufacturing employees are highly skilled artisans; two years of training are required for a seamstress to master the hand-finishing of Akris's double-faced cashmere jackets, each of which requires two and a half days to complete.