Ex-US President Barack Obama already has neckties from Krefeld, the “Town like Silk and Velvet” in his fundus and now our Federal President, Frank Walter Steinmeier can also boast his own necktie and scarf from the textile town. As reported in the Rheinische Post newspaper, both gifts originate from Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS), the museum in Luisenstraße 15.

The high-quality silk products were presented to the head of state during his recent visit to Krefeld after he had signed the Golden Book in the town hall. The reason for Steinmeier’s visit to Krefeld was the start of his competition „Democracy up close“. It was also his wish to include a visit to the “Town like Silk and Velvet” in Bauhaus centenary year. Bauhaus was founded one hundred years ago in Weimar but a large number of buildings designed by the well-known Bauhaus architect Mies van der Rohe can be found in Krefeld. Our photo shows from right to left, Federal President Steinmeier with his wife, Elke Büdenbender. In the centre the mayor of Krefeld Frank Meyer next to his wife Katrin Meyer-Eberhardt and Klaus Kaiser, Parlamentary Secretary of State in the NRW Ministry for Culture and Science.                                                                                 

RP Photo: Thomas Lammertz