On Wednesday, the Couture Council of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology honored Albert Kriemler, creative director of the Swiss fashion brand, Akris, as the 2016 winner of the Couture Council Award. Thanks to the designer’s “commitment to outstanding craftsmanship and his dedication to creating well-tailored wearable pieces that blend luxury with functionality,” Kriemler joins a long and well-known list of designers who received the award in the past, including Manolo Blahnik, Karl Lagerfeld, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, and more.

Valerie Steele, director of the Museum at FIT, explained to InStyle that the Council’s choice had everything to do with the designer’s “exquisite craftsmanship.” “It wasn’t just old school luxury,” she said referring to Akris’s latest collection, “but that it was an intense effort to make clothes modern and to use technology in a very subtle and modern way.”

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The collection is totally inspired by New York, Kriemler shared with us. “A year ago I had the wonderful chance to visit the first exhibition at the Whitney,” he explained. “I discovered a piece of art which I was not familiar with but I was fascinated with, and I started my research and not knowing where I would end up.” His new collection, debuting this Friday, will definitely be a wonderful blend of Kriemler’s creativity, modern technology, and artistry inspired by the artwork at the Whitney.

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Also in attendance at the event was Martha Stewart, who, clad in Akris, told us her favorite part of the brand was its longevity: “how well made it is, how classic it is, and how it will last for years and years.” Her best piece of advice for budding fashionistas? “Work really hard.” Well said, Martha, well said.