Swiss Plant Flagship in New York

Akris (St. Gallen, Switzerland) has opened its New York flagship on Madison Avenue. The 4000-square-foot space was designed by German architect Christoph Sattler (Hilmer & Sattler und Albrecht Gesellschaft von Architekten, Munich and Berlin).

The Swiss couture fashion house says the space was “designed to bring out the integrity and essence of the clothes and place an emphasis on the customer — allowing them to feel comfortable and welcome.”

The company says “the architect has created a two-story retail space with several split levels that offer a sense of fluid movement echoed by a waving maple wall. The palette of neutral shades is the perfect counterpoint to one of the most architectural elements of the boutique — a soaring central staircase with railings of polished steel.

“Other accents include walls of black horsehair that serve as the backdrop to Akris daywear, whereas the Akris Punto area features leather walls. Sattler has also designed a signature chair exclusively for the boutique.

“Original bowed windows overlook a garden designed by Peter Wirtz, the Belgian landscape architect who completed the redesign of both the Louvre Museum and Elysee Palace gardens in Paris.”

The store will feature Albert Kriemler's couture collection Akris as well as his sportswear collection Akris Punto. “In so many ways New York City is the capital of design and modernism and having a flagship of this kind on Madison Avenue has always been a dream of mine,” said Kriemler.

Akris was founded in 1922 and has remained a family-owned company. Today, the third generation, brothers Albert and Peter Kriemler, own and operate the company. The collection is designed by Albert and produced in the company's ateliers in Switzerland. It is sold in approximately 500 locations worldwide, including Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus and Saks Fifth Avenue in the U.S., as well as 35 Akris boutiques and vendor shops.