Invoking an architectural approach in his design inspirations, Albert Kriemler translates silhouettes into cut lines and into style elements made possible with the synergistic use of fine fabrics, the best mills and current technologies. 

"Style is all about the woman, her personality. You should notice the woman first and then what she is wearing," he says. "I want fashion to be effortless in its appearance and use, because a woman's life is complicated enough. Fashion should not add to this." 

The fashion house was shaped by two very modern women. "My grandmother, who founded Akris in 1922, and my mother, who drove the expansion in the '80s," Albert Kriemler says.

From handbags woven out of Mongolian horsehair to signature fabric crafted exclusively for Akris and the evocative photo prints he pioneered, Albert Kriemler's creative vision in design bestows a story behind what has become wearable artwork.

"Beauty is not enough. Fashion has to inspire and to surprise," he says. "It has to be versatile and effortless. It has to serve the desires and the practical needs of a discerning, fast-travelling modern woman."

For his fall/winter 2014-15 collection, Albert Kriemler collaborated with renowned German photographer Thomas Ruff. A true manifestation of his design spirit, Albert Kriemler embedded LED lights into dresses - transforming Ruff's two-dimensional photographs of stars into a flowing, vivid fabric canvas of a starlit night sky. For his spring/summer collection, the designer takes inspiration from Kazimir Malevich's paintings - the black, white and red squares of his Suprematist days, and the silhouettes and colours of his figurative paintings. 

With an international presence spanning more than 500 boutiques and shops from Monaco to New York, Akris will be launching three new stores in Shanghai in addition to its stores in South Korea and Japan. The fashion house will then turn its focus on Hong Kong and Beijing. 

"I am looking forward to making my contribution to fashion for the dynamic, beautiful and independent women of China," says Albert Kriemler, who takes inspiration from China's outstanding culture and its modern society, and finds a way to interpret these cultural aspects in a clear but distinct style. "I feel a strong connection to the sense of colours and the culture of refinement and craftsmanship in China's tradition." 

As part of its strategies to develop the brand, Akris is strengthening its online presence by developing its e-commerce platform. Redesigned and launched in 2012, the Akris website will soon have a Chinese-language option and a fully managed online store.

Committed to being honest to its brand philosophy and heritage, Akris is always ready to adapt to different cultural tastes and social lifestyles in different markets.