Filippa K names Saint Laurent's Kessler as its creative chief

By

Sandra Halliday

Published
Jan 17, 2022

Swedish fashion house Filippa K has named Liisa Kessler as its new Creative Director. It’s a big move for the label as she succeeds Filippa Knutsson, founder of the brand, who had stepped away from the role as far back as 2019. Her debut collection for the house will be presented in June. 

Previously a designer at Saint Laurent, she will be responsible for all creative aspects of Filippa K at its Stockholm ateliers. 

And we should expect some change ahead. The company said that "while carrying through the house’s heritage of timeless Scandinavian style and continuing to guide its mission of mindful consumption, her work will also mark a noticeable shift in the creative direction”.

Kessler is trained in tailoring and dressmaking and has a degree in Fashion Design from the Berlin University of the Arts. She’s worked for some of Europe’s top designer names, including at Chloé under Clare Waight Keller, then Y/Project and Lanvin. Most recently she spent five years at Saint Laurent under Anthony Vaccarello as a senior designer for the show collections. 

She said that “Filippa Knutsson was one of the pioneers establishing the now-iconic look of Scandinavian minimalism back in the early 90s. Her vision of an uncomplicated, desirable, and sustainable wardrobe is as relevant today as it was when the brand was founded. I’m looking forward to working with the teams on a new era for the house and carrying forward Filippa’s legacy that celebrates simplicity, style, quality and the power of ease”.

CEO Rikard Frost added that she “exemplifies a remarkable creative talent with an intuitive understanding of craftsmanship and a keen eye for what’s next — values that are integral to preserving our heritage while guiding the ambitious future of the house. Her unique background of Scandinavian and international influences provides a dual perspective that makes her a natural successor to Filippa Knutsson”.