Akris
Kriemler family · Switzerland
Akris is a Swiss luxury womenswear house founded in St. Gallen in 1922 by Alice Kriemler-Schoch. It is owned and led by the third generation of the Kriemler family, with Albert Kriemler as creative director, and it shows at Paris Fashion Week.
| Founded | 1922, St. Gallen |
|---|---|
| Founder | Alice Kriemler-Schoch |
| Owner | Kriemler family (third generation) |
| Creative director | Albert Kriemler |
| Chief executive | Peter Kriemler |
| Headquarters | St. Gallen, Switzerland |
| Website | akris.com |
What is Akris?
Akris is a family owned fashion house from St. Gallen, Switzerland, known for precise, understated womenswear and technically refined fabrics. It is the only Swiss house that belongs to the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode in Paris.
History
Alice Kriemler-Schoch founded the business in St. Gallen in 1922. Her son Max Kriemler took over in 1944, and the third generation, brothers Albert and Peter Kriemler, developed it into an international luxury brand. Akris debuted in the United States at Bergdorf Goodman in 1988, opened its first boutiques in Paris and Boston in 1996 and has presented its collections at Paris Fashion Week since 2004.
Products and positioning
The house focuses on women's ready-to-wear with an emphasis on fabric development, including double-face wool, cashmere, horsehair and St. Gallen embroidery, as well as digital photo printing.
- Akris: the main ready-to-wear collection
- Akris punto: a more relaxed line launched in 1996
- Handbags: added in 2009, including the Ai bag
- Accessories: scarves and small leather goods
Business model and distribution
Akris operates its own boutiques in major cities and sells through selected department stores and specialty retailers. The company states more than 500 points of sale worldwide including freestanding boutiques, and it has subsidiaries in the United States, Japan, Korea and China and showrooms in Paris, New York and Milan. Albert Kriemler leads design as creative director, while Peter Kriemler is chief executive and oversees management and manufacturing.
Why it matters
Akris is one of the few independent, family owned European luxury houses with a global presence. Its combination of family governance, textile expertise from the St. Gallen region and a strong wholesale network makes it a reference for discreet, quality led luxury.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Akris?
Akris is owned and run by the third generation of the Kriemler family. Albert Kriemler is creative director and his brother Peter Kriemler is chief executive.
Where is Akris from?
Akris is from St. Gallen in eastern Switzerland, where Alice Kriemler-Schoch founded it in 1922. The company is still headquartered there and shows its collections in Paris.