Kris Van Assche joins the list of designers who, after stepping away from the runways, have chosen to channel their creativity into other fields. Following a career marked by his work alongside Hedi Slimane at Yves Saint Laurent and Dior, the creation of his own label KRISVANASSCHE, and his time as creative director of Dior Homme and Berluti, the Belgian designer has changed format, but not perspective.
Last spring, he unveiled his first collaboration with Serax, a Belgian brand specialising in contemporary homeware. That collection debuted with glass vases and candleholders, defined by organic shapes and soft colours. Now, just ahead of Christmas, the collaboration expands with a second release that strengthens the bond between the two.
The second Kris Van Assche collection for Serax
In this new phase, Van Assche enters the world of candles. He develops two fragrances with a clear personal dimension. One evokes the summers of his childhood spent in Spain. The other revisits the imagery of the bonbonnière, already present in previous pieces, through sweet and floral notes.
The collection maintains a constant poetic tension. Everyday objects are reinterpreted using more refined materials. As early as June, blown-glass vases shaped like beer bottles reflected this desire to unite the familiar with the sophisticated. A duality that, according to the designer himself, has always driven his creative work.
The pieces created with Serax are named Josephine, in homage to his grandmother. The gesture reinforces the intimate nature of the project. In an interview with MF Fashion, Van Assche explained that this return to craftsmanship emerged after his departure from the fashion system in 2021.
Away from the fast-paced rhythm of collections, the designer says he has reconnected with his interest in “old world beauty”. An aesthetic that also finds references in the work of Robert Mapplethorpe. The collection was developed alongside floral artist Mark Colle, strengthening the dialogue between art, form and material.
When Kris Van Assche designed chairs
This is not his first foray into interior design. In 2019, during Design Miami, he collaborated with François Laffanour, founder of Galerie Downtown. Together, they reinterpreted 17 original pieces by Pierre Jeanneret from the 1950s.
The project stood out for its use of colour. Eighteen different shades were applied to iconic pieces such as the Sukhna cinema chair, the Nespola daybed and the Pinjore armchair. Further proof that, even outside fashion, Kris Van Assche’s creative language remains intact.
Looking ahead, Van Assche does not rule out returning to fashion, nor focusing solely on interior design. His aim is to find a project that shares the classical sensibility he now champions.
Kris Van Assche steps down from the creative direction of Berluti.
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