There was a special warmth at this year’s Couture Council luncheon which had nothing to do with the brilliant early September sun or the lovely ambiance at the David Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. It came from our awardee Albert Kriemler , creative director of Akris, who radiated gratitude, appreciation and humility with every word and gesture. There were at least 400 ardent admirers in the audience, many of them turned out in elegant Akris designs, and I think they would agree.
Akris is an international fashion house headquartered in Switzerland and it is where Mr. Kriemler is based. In his acceptance speech, Mr. Kriemler offered a valentine to New York City, reflecting on the way it has inspired him over the years and the role it has played in his career. Indeed, rather than showing his collection in Paris this year, as he always does, he is—for the first time ever—showing it here in New York…“as a tribute,” he said, “to the Couture Council and to give back … the love and respect this city has offered to me since I was only starting.”
Dr. Valerie Steele, The Museum at FIT Director; Dr. Joyce F. Brown, FIT President; Albert Kriemler
Couture Council Artistry of Fashion Award
Patty and Jay Baker, FIT Foundation Chair and FIT Trustee
Dr. Joyce F. Brown, FIT president; Robert D’Loren, Judith Ripka, with jewels from the Judith Ripka LLC collection (Photo by Andrew Toth/Getty Images for FIT)
Kim Heirston, Audrey Gruss, Margo Langenberg
Pete Scotese, FIT trustee emeritus and Yaz Hernandez, Couture Council Chair, FIT trustee
Guests at David Koch Theater/Lincoln Center
Fe Fendi, Amelia Ogunlesi
Martha Stewart, Bronson Van Wyck, Hal Rubenstein
Lisa Klein and Audrey Gruss, Couture Council luncheon chairs
Albert Kriemler
Leticia Presutti, Joe Zee, Yaz Hernandez, Hamisih Bowles toast the late NYTimes photographer Bill Cunningham
Sou Fujimoto, architect
B Michael, Mark Anthony Edwards
Liz Peek, FIT Board of Trustees chair; Joan Hornig, FIT trustee
Julie Macklowe, Lisa Klein, Audrey Guss, Liz Peek
Kamie Lightburn, Couture Council president; Muffie Potter Aston
Veronica Webb, Chris Delgado
Jean Shafiroff, Albert Kriemler
Albert Kriemler, Ken Downing