Akris’s Albert Kriemler Finds Creative Fuel in the Art World
Akris creative director Albert Kriemler often looks to visual art when developing his collections. For fall 2026, he worked with Colombian artist Olga de Amaral, whose textile pieces encouraged him to use more shine, color and texture. Kriemler has connected his designs to art since Akris’s first Paris runway show in 2004, which drew on painter Félix Vallotton.
Kriemler has led Akris as creative director since 1980. As a young man, he accompanied his family—founders of the Swiss label—to textile fairs and sometimes saw Yves Saint Laurent runway presentations that translated artists such as Van Gogh, Braque and Mondrian into clothing.
The fall 2026 collection grew from several days with Olga de Amaral at her Bogotá home; her gold- and silver-covered textiles pushed him toward brighter surfaces and richer materials. Akris first made art a direct runway reference in 2004, using Félix Vallotton’s palette. Later projects included LED pieces inspired by Thomas Ruff and designs drawing on Reinhard Voigt, Carmen Herrera and Rodney Graham.
This story may reinforce fashion’s role as a bridge between luxury commerce and visual art, potentially drawing museumgoers and collectors toward textile artists such as Olga de Amaral. Designers, artisans, and fashion students could see cross-disciplinary research as a route to innovation, while consumers may encounter more textured, luminous clothing. Because the article centers on a high-end house, its broader social reach could remain limited, mostly shaping industry conversation and cultural coverage rather than everyday wardrobes.