As winter approaches, Aurélien unveils its Fall/Winter 2025–26 collection — a compelling fusion of alpine ruggedness and Mediterranean ease. Rooted in the brand’s philosophy of smart luxury, the collection redefines cold-weather dressing through a lens of understated refinement, tactile richness, and effortless adaptability. Drawing inspiration from the crisp intensity of the Swiss Alps and the warmth of coastal heritage, FW25–26 offers a wardrobe that is both sensorial and functional — where cashmere corduroy, velour-lined pockets, and detachable fur collars meet architectural knitwear and clean, timeless silhouettes. With hues lifted from alpine lakes and sun-warmed stone, and craftsmanship anchored in Italian ateliers, this season speaks fluently to the modern man navigating life between city streets and countryside escapes.
To explore the inspiration, innovation, and philosophy behind the collection, we spoke with Philip Hetterschijt, founder & creative director of Aurélien.
Interview with Philip Hetterschijt
The Manual: What inspired the Swiss Alps theme for the FW25–26 collection, and how does it blend with Aurélien’s Mediterranean roots to create a cohesive seasonal narrative?
Philip Hetterschijt: The Alps evoke sharp, crisp energy. Snow, stone, and altitude. The Mediterranean evokes warmth, light, and ease. The Aurélien FW25 collection is about bringing those worlds together. We mimic the softness of Mediterranean summers in winter through fabrics that feel incredibly gentle on the skin. Rugged textures meet soft tailoring, heavy knits meet fluid lines. It’s a winter story that feels both adventurous and effortless, mountain air with a Mediterranean soul.
The Manual: Can you elaborate on the concept of “Smart Luxury” and how it’s embodied in the FW25–26 pieces, particularly in terms of balancing elegance, comfort, and versatility for the modern man?
Philip Hetterschijt: Smart Luxury for us is about creating luxury you actually live in. Products that bring ultimate comfort and freedom, allowing the wearer to focus on what it truly important: joie-de-vivre (enjoying life). With a strong focus on timeless style, artisanal craftsmanship, and the finest natural raw materials, Aurélien offers a collection of pure luxury at an elegant price point.
All our FW25–26 pieces are handmade in Italy and Europe. Outerwear jackets are crafted in Italy by hand, knitwear is spun and finished in specialist Italian ateliers, and footwear is crafted by hand in Italian ateliers that have generational savoir-faire. We work with incredibly soft fabrics and elevate them with sensorial details like velour-lined pockets, beaver fur collars or shearling details, bringing the warmth and ease of the Mediterranean into winter.
Each piece balances elegance, comfort, and versatility so the modern man can move seamlessly between city and mountains, work and leisure. That balance, paired with true craftsmanship, is the essence of Smart Luxury.
The Manual: The color palette features shades like Caramel & Beige, Pistachio, and Dark Aquamarine—how were these hues selected, and what role do they play in transitioning outfits from city to countryside?
Philip Hetterschijt: Our palette always starts from nature.
- Caramel and Beige are Aurélien’s signatures, our quiet version of gold, timeless and grounding.
- Pistachio brings freshness, almost mineral, a way to lift winter layers without losing depth.
- Dark Aquamarine is drawn from deep alpine lakes, mysterious, refined, and versatile enough for tailoring or outerwear.
Together they create a spectrum that feels at home in the city, clean and elegant, but just as natural against stone, snow, or countryside greens. They let the wardrobe move fluidly between worlds.
The Manual: Which materials would you say are highlights, and how do they contribute to the tactile richness and textile innovation?
Philip Hetterschijt: The cashmere corduroy blend is one of the standouts for this season, an exceptional soft touch paired with the rugged rhythm of corduroy ribs. It has structure but remains subtle, with a quiet sheen that catches the light beautifully. Another hero is our cashmere blend outerwear fabric, crafted and finished in Italy. It is a mix of wool and cashmere, but the hand feels as soft as pure cashmere, and we treat it with a water repellent finish so it performs in real winter weather. We stand for product innovation, always searching for ways to add an extra touch of comfort, functionality, or softness to a product.
The Manual: How does the FW25–26 collection emphasize functional adaptability, like detachable collars in outerwear or layering options, to suit the lifestyle of today’s discerning gentleman?
Philip Hetterschijt: For us, function should feel invisible; it is built in, not shouted about. For the FW25 collection, that means outerwear with detachable collars that shift from refined city tailoring to full winter protection in seconds. Knitwear is designed as a system: light rollnecks, mid-gauge crews, and heavy ribs that layer without bulk, so you can adjust warmth as you move.
Our outerwear fabrics are treated for water resistance, two-way zips give ease, and gilets slip under coats or over knits. It is all about adaptability that matches the rhythm of a modern man’s life, from office to mountains, from travel to leisure, without ever compromising elegance.
The Manual: What key silhouettes stand out in this season, from tailored coats to heavy rib knitwear, and how do they reflect timeless sophistication while incorporating modern functionality?
Philip Hetterschijt: The silhouettes this season are clean, strong, and timeless. The tailored coat is the anchor: long, refined, but cut for movement. Heavy rib knits bring weight and texture, almost architectural, but they remain soft enough to layer with ease. Cashmere corduroy trousers strike a balance between relaxed comfort and tailored line. And our body warmer with a detachable fur collar has become a quiet signature, a piece that shifts between city and countryside effortlessly. Each silhouette is timeless in proportion, but infused with modern functionality, details you feel when you wear them rather than see at first glance.
The Manual: Aurélien draws on European craftsmanship—could you share insights into the production process for FW25–26 items, especially those crafted in Italy, and how it ensures quality at an intelligent price point?
Philip Hetterschijt: Craftsmanship is at the heart of what we do. Most of our FW25 outerwear and knitwear is made in Italy, in small family-run ateliers that have passed skills down through generations. Our outerwear is handmade, each pattern cut, sewn, and finished with an attention to detail you can feel when you wear them. Knitwear is developed in specialist mills that understand how to work with cashmere and extrafine merino so the fabrics stay soft yet durable. By keeping our production close, cutting out unnecessary middlemen, and working directly with these artisans, we can put the investment into the product itself. That is how we deliver true European craftsmanship and luxurious fabrics at what we call an elegant price point.
The Manual: In what ways does the FW25–26 collection invite anticipation for winter, focusing on sensorial pleasures and elevated essentials that align with joie de vivre?
Philip Hetterschijt: The FW25 collection is about looking forward to winter instead of enduring it. We designed pieces that heighten the small rituals of the season: the first breath of cold air, the weight of a knit settling on your shoulders, the warmth of a fur collar brushing the skin. Elevated essentials like heavy rib knits, cashmere blend coats, and velour-lined pockets turn everyday function into sensorial pleasure. There is a sense of joie de vivre in the collection, an invitation to enjoy winter’s beauty with softness and ease, whether you are in the city or in the mountains.
The Manual: As Aurélien expands with stores in London, Paris, Geneva, and Amsterdam, how does the FW25–26 collection cater to a global audience seeking quiet luxury?
Philip Hetterschijt: Quiet luxury travels well. The FW25 collection is built around pieces that resonate across cultures because they are rooted in quality and atmosphere rather than trend. A cashmere coat in Light Beige or Dark Aquamarine feels just as at home on a London street as it does in Geneva or Paris. Knitwear in mineral greens and soft neutrals speaks a universal language of refinement. By focusing on timeless silhouettes, soft fabrics, and discreet details, we create a wardrobe that adapts to different cities and climates, yet always carries the same sense of understated elegance. That is how we speak to a global audience.
The Manual: For readers building a versatile wardrobe, what are some standout pieces from FW25–26 that exemplify the brand’s commitment to understated design and everyday aspiration?
Philip Hetterschijt: Some of the standout pieces this season show how we take quiet luxury into everyday icons.
- The Ivory Cashmere Corduroy Puffer Jacket is a statement in softness and light, giving a rugged silhouette a refined touch.
- The Dark Aquamarine Cashmere Corduroy Body Warmer brings richness and depth, easy to layer from city to mountains.
- Our Cashmere Blend Voyager Parka, finished in Italy with a genuine detachable beaver fur collar, balances protection with unmistakable elegance.
- To complete the story, matching Cashmere Corduroy Baseball Caps with a branded metal adjuster at the back add a subtle precision.
- And for footwear, the new laceless AUR3 Sneaker in grain leather with a deerskin-like touch embodies comfort and versatility with a modern, minimal edge.
These pieces capture what Aurélien stands for: understated design, sensorial comfort, and a wardrobe built on quiet sophistication.
