Jakob Schlaepfer and Forster Willi showcase new creations

(CONNECT) The St.Gallen-based design labels Jakob Schlaepfer and Forster Willi have showcased “numerous sophisticated creations” for haute couture at the Prêt-à-Porter Fashion Week Spring 2026 in Milan and Paris. The two traditional studios belong to the Forster Rohner Group, which is also based in St.Gallen.

Forster Willi designed several pieces for the St.Gallen-based fashion label Akris, the sole Swiss representative at Paris Fashion Week. The collection by Swiss designer Albert Kriemler, Creative Director at Akris, was reportedly inspired by the “geometric works of minimalist painter Leon Polk Smith” and featured several pieces with an emphasis on “clean lines, bold colors and lightweight materials”.

Forster Willi presented a model for Louis Vuitton featuring “white guipure lace made of lotus blossoms with a variety of floral elements, implemented using spatula, bluecut, and classic guipure techniques”. The pieces created by Forster Willi for the Italian fashion brand Miu Miu focused on the “aesthetics of the working world”. Aprons, smocks and overalls were showcased in this regard. The Danish designer Cecilie Bahnsen presented Forster Willi designs that bring a sense of “artistic sophistication” to the international fashion world. According to the press release, this fabric “requires around five hours of the finest handwork per meter”.

Jakob Schlaepfer presented a design for Louis Vuitton featuring “maxi sequins made from fine silk satin”, while the luxury brand Chanel received four models from Jakob Schlaepfer, in which “scroll sequin guipures, delicate embroideries without a base fabric, take shape through their structure and the shine of the sequins”. With the Jakob Schlaepfer creations for Jil Sander feature a “characteristic puff pastry effect” for the fashion world. These designs were realized on the basis of “intricate handwork” and feature up to 300 appliquéd fabric strips on the front of a look. The Italian luxury brand Bottega Veneta presented a collection designed by Jakob Schlaepfer with an emphasis on “handcrafted fringes made of polyester and leather”. One dress in the collection even required 10 to 20 hours of work at the in-house studio. ce/heg