Kris Van Assche
Born: Londerzeel, Belgium, 1976
Credits & copyrights Gaëtan Bernard
Kris Van Assche studied at Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts from 1994 to 1998. Upon graduation Assche moved to Paris where he secured an internship with Hedi Slimane, a designer at Yves Saint Laurent for the Rive Gauche Homme line.
When Hedi Slimane moved to Christian Dior to head up menswear, Assche followed. Together they helped develop the Dior Homme collection before Assche left in 2004. The following year Assche stepped out on his own launching his own menswear collection showing for the first time at Paris Fashion Week.
Slimane left Dior in 2007 and Assche was offered his position, which he accepted. Deciding to take the label in a new direction, Assche commented on Slimane’s style at Dior to Interview magazine; ‘His skinny, rock ‘n’ roll look had become such a cliché in the streets that any designer would have had to take the collection in a new direction.’ He utilised Slimane’s skinny jeans and thin-lapels but added volume to the silhouettes.
Assche collaborated with Eastpak in 2011 on a range of bags that embodied his modern masculine style for autumn/winter 2011/2012. The success of the collection followed with a second collaboration for spring/summer 2012. The eleven piece collection reflected his clean design aesthetic.
Kris Van Assche offers a nonchalant elegance with a modern masculine style.
In June 2013, Kris Van Assche opened his first KRISVANASSCHE boutique in Paris, located at 16 rue Saint Roch in the 1st arrondissement and designed by Ciguë.
During 2012 and 2013, KRISVANASSCHE collaborated with American denim brand Lee to create two capsule collections.
Facing criticism from critics and a perception of an outdated style compared to emerging London designers, Van Assche decided to temporarily close his personal label in late May 2015, citing the challenges of being an independent brand.
From April 2007 to March 2018, Kris Van Assche served as the artistic director for Dior Homme.
In April 2018, he was appointed as the creative director of luxury brand Berluti, succeeding Haider Ackermann. His debut collection for Berluti was released in January 2019. During his time at Berluti, he collaborated with art dealer François Laffanour to present a collection of restored Pierre Jeanneret furniture upholstered with Berluti’s signature Venezia leather.
On 21 April 2021, Kris Van Assche announced his departure from Berluti as its artistic director, citing an intense three-year period, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2021, he became a Mentor of the Master in Creative Direction at Polimoda fashion school in Florence, Italy.
Kris Van Assche’s style icons include Jean Cocteau for classic coats and eccentricity, Pina Bausch for her dance-inspired boots, and actors Sean Penn and Johnny Depp.
Kris Van Assche Biography
I am the brother of Holley Coulter Chirot, whose work Mr. Van Assche recently exhibited in his collection, and I would like to thank him. Is there any way you can give me his email or telephone number so that I can get in touch with him.
I am Douglas Coulter, brother of Holley Coulter Chirot, whose work Mr. Van Assche recently exhibited in his collection. Could you possibly give me Mr. Van Assche’s email or telephone number so that I can contact him and thank him.
Douglas Coulter