Akris is a Swiss premium luxury womenswear brand that has been catering to high fashion clientele since the 1940s. The company, founded in 1922, began life as a textiles and apron manufacturing concern under the helm of founder Alice Kriemler-Schoch (with the brand’s name being an abbreviation of her own name), before slowly evolving into the haute couture powerhouse that it is recognised as today.
Tag Archives: PREMIUM
LUXURY BRANDS DIRECTORY
Luxury brands are those renowned makers that produce highly sought-after luxury goods, from fashion and accessories, such as couture or bespoke sartorial pieces; leather goods; jewellery; wristwatches, to big-ticket purchases, such as cars and yachts. Many of these brands boast a long, celebrated and illustrious history and a carefully curated heritage intertwined with significant contributionsContinue reading “LUXURY BRANDS DIRECTORY”
ALAN FLUSSER
The celebrated arbiter of sartorial excellence, Alan Flusser has long been regarded as one of the foremost authorities on men’s style and the art of dressing well. Indeed, he literally wrote the book on the subject – ‘Dressing the Man’. Mr Flusser’s bespoke tailoring studio in New York City is one of the few true traditional tailors in the European tradition in the United States, offering Savile Row cut suits albeit with a strong nod towards American Trad to cater for even the most conservative of American tastes.
AIREY & WHEELER: A TRAVELLING TAILOR TAILORING FOR TRAVELLERS
Legendary tropical weather tailor and a Savile Row institution, albeit located off-Row in Piccadilly, Airey & Wheeler was the first-choice tailor for distinguished gentlemen and military officers seeking lighter weight suits and tailored pieces for warmer climates, including the much-dismissed London summertime. Famous patrons of the House include a number of former Prime Ministers, Sir Winston Churchill and Sir John Major amongst them. The firm remained under the control of the founding Airey family until 1996 when it was acquired by and incorporated into the house of Anthony J Hewitt, itself now under the watchful eye and stewardship of renowned master tailor, Ravi Tailor.
A.W. BAUER & CO: THE LEADING NAME IN SWEDISH BESPOKE TAILORING
A.W. Bauer & Co, or Bauer as the firm is more famously known, is the pre-eminent Swedish tailoring house with a long and illustrious history serving royalty and Scandinavian gentleman for more than 150 years. The Stockholm firm has been given new life following the eventual takeover by young entrepreneurial Swedish tailors seeking to reinvigorate the appeal of bespoke craftsmanship but bringing a modern twist to the house’s traditional approach.
A. CARACENI: THE PURSUIT OF A TAILORING TRADITION
The Caraceni name is legendary in the world of Italian bespoke tailoring with various cadet branches of the family having established reputable tailoring houses bearing the family’s great name. The Milanese Sartoria Caraceni is considered one of Milan’s, if not the world’s, great bespoke tailors with a distinguished and loyal customer base including, indeed, many notable designers and leading fashion voices rendering Sartoria A. Caraceni a designer’s designer. Those seeking classic structured elegance in their suiting , crafted from the finest Italian or English cloths might well find a second home at this Milanese studio.
LUXURY CHOCOLATE & CHOCOLATIER BRANDS
Few things in this world are as universally loved and as guaranteed to bring pleasure as the consumption of chocolate. The health benefits may be questionable, but certainly it is known that chocolate can trigger the release of endorphins resulting in a feeling of happiness and elation. Long enjoyed by ancient Inca and Aztec cultures in South and Central America, Europeans developed a ferocious appetite for chocolate and a proliferation of chocolatiers were established across Europe and further afield.
PATEY HATS
One of London’s most illustrious hatters, Patey traces its history back to 1695. The brand’s first store, however, opened in the West End in 1799. The firm garnered a reputation as standard bearer in the industry, producing fine hats by hand to the most esteemed customers, including HM the Queen of England who bestowed a Royal Warrant upon them. Patey Hats was the preferred maker for the legendary hat designer, Herbert Johnson whose own hat studio ultimately absorbed parts of the Patey house before becoming part of Swaine Adeney Brigg in 1996. The Patey brand remains today as part of the Firmin House group.
LAULHÈRE
Originator of the iconic French beret, Laulhère has been crafting this iconic hat for military and civilian customers since 1840. Founded in the foothills of the Pyrenées, Laulhère uses traditional techniques and the finest wools sourced from across the region to knit elegant and luxurious hats and accessories. The firm was awarded the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant distinction in recognition of their heritage and craftsmanship. Their products are widely available across France and internationally.
LAIRD HATTERS
A relatively new arrival to the gentlemen’s hatters scene, Laird was founded in 2009 and has branches in London, Oxford and Cambridge. The house focuses on producing high quality products for discerning, fashion and style conscious customers who seek hard-wearing apparel. This ethos has been driven forward by the launch of the brand’s own range of clothing, under the Laird Utility label, which includes countrywear and workwear pieces made to the same quality and standards as their hats. Their luxurious, traditional hat boxes have become collectables in their own right.
FITZGABRIELS 