Date: Swiss, founded 1922

Biography: The Akris company, based in St. Gallen, Switzerland, was founded in 1922 by Albert Kriemler’s grandmother, Alice Kriemler-Schoch. Aprons were the original product of her small business, whose name is an amalgam of familial names. The label expanded greatly as it passed through the generations, and Albert Kriemler assumed design control of the fashion line in 1980. By 1989, the classic and elegant tailoring of the Swiss brand was available at the department store Bergdorf Goodman, and the company has grown steadily ever since. Beautiful fabrics and quality workmanship are crucial to Akris. When discussing the creation of his streamlined and understated designs, Kriemler cites fabric as the most important element. For the catalogue that accompanied Akris—Fashion from St. Gallen, a 2006 exhibition at Germany’s Textilmuseum, he wrote that “fabric is the medium of discreet but perceptible luxury.” Kriemler’s chosen fabrics (he is especially fond of supple double-faced wools and cashmere) are always of high caliber, and are often sourced from Italian mills. Although the aesthetic of the brand is very modern, Kriemler’s commitment to the small details is a subtle nod to the past. The use of hand-finishing, for example, or employing menswear tailors to cut a jacket, demonstrates the company’s unique heritage of craftsmanship. As Kriemler said to Women’s Wear Daily in 1989, “The most important thing is to have your own handwriting and stick to it. Ours is quality, and without that, creativity doesn’t have a leg to stand on.”