"An avatar will soon guide you through the "Silk Museum" is the title of the WZ in its March 16, 2022 issue on the "Culture in Krefeld" page. Head of Culture Christian Oscar Gazsi Laki states: "The House of Silk Culture is getting fit for the digital future". The positive echo of the contribution, which deals with the "Mingei" EU project, also comes from abroad, where the people involved in the project are looking attentively to Krefeld, where the finale of the measure mentioned is due soon. The half-page article brings the reader up to date; one more reason to publish the article here in unabridged form:

from Christian Oscar Gazsi Laki

It might come as a bit of a surprise – or maybe not – that a relatively small, privately run museum in Krefeld is one of the busiest digitally in the city. And that doesn't just mean the already attractive website of the House of Silk Culture Krefeld in the former Hubert Gotzes parament weaving mill. A professional-looking and informative website is actually a minimum for a museum today, no matter what kind. Although there may still be room for improvement in one place or another in other museums, but that is another long story in a very broad field. It is also still quite “normal” that despite the likeable “handmade” atmosphere in the building itself and also on the videos, exhibition openings are regularly streamed (also available on YouTube afterwards).

It gets spectacular when you hear terms like avatar, digitization and the like from Dieter Brenner. Incidentally, the lively good spirit in the house likes to jokingly refer to himself as a "swashbuckler" in reference to the craft of the "patroneur", who made templates for fabrics. And the charisma of this elderly gentleman, who passionately guides you through the secrets of the Silk Museum and inspires people for the traditional craftsmanship of silk weaving, can also be experienced digitally in the future. This is possible through an EU project called "Mingei", in which the House of Silk Culture is allowed to participate and which aims to "digitize both the material and immaterial aspects of ancient crafts and to transfer the corresponding knowledge. This relates to the presentation, preservation and accessibility of the craft as a cultural heritage” – as can be read on the project website.

"Our museum should also be fun to discover in the future," affirms Brenner, who will be available as an "avatar" with his voice. For individual visitors there will soon be (around April) 20 tablets, with the help of which “the avatar” will guide you through the museum with Brenner's voice. At individual info points there is more information worth knowing in words and pictures. "We want to be attractive for the individual visitor" - says Brenner. The usual way to visit the house so far is in the form of booked groups that are guided through the rooms of the museum. Individual museum guests should "not be left out in the rain."

An avatar with Dieter Brenner's voice will soon guide individual visitors through the House of Silk Culture. Photo: Mingei-Projekt

An important step is the Mingei project as part of "Horizon 2020", which goes far beyond the avatar museum guide. Paraments, priestly robes, which were made in the weaving mill at Luisenstraße 15 at the time, are digitized, and the "history of silk" but also the "craft" are digitally documented. For example, the craft of patron Dieter Blatt was recorded for eternity by means of a "motion capture process" - i.e. a digitized recording of movements, as is otherwise used in Hollywood films to fill computer-generated figures with "life". The entire project is estimated at 102,000 euros, 85,000 euros have already been approved, reports Brenner. There are still a number of things that are on the museum's wish list, she admits - and that with voluntary museums, such as the House of Silk Culture, it is by no means trivial to fit into the EU's funding structures.

Museum also has many "analogue" plans for the future

But the House of Silk Culture also has numerous "analogue" plans. So one is in good spirits that there will be participation in the flax market again at Pentecost. With a plan A and a plan B, because if the presentation at the market cannot be successful due to corona reasons, at least a small version should be possible in-house. But Dieter Brenner also likes to talk about the house's plans for the city's anniversary in 2023. After all, it takes time to prepare - the city, by the way, is currently keeping a low profile, but promises to inform the public soon. "We have found a very interesting cooperation partner for the city's anniversary," enthuses Brenner. The old sewage treatment plant and the really hard-working monument protectors from the association for the preservation of the historic sewage treatment plant in Krefeld Uerdingen. Several projects are planned with the association. A large exhibition, for example, with the artist Sonja Weber, who will show large-format works with a textile reference. Smaller exhibits are to be shown in parallel in the Silk Museum. A fashion show is also being planned to take place at the sewage treatment plant - but that is still in preparation.

 At the beginning of the year Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS) was accepted as the most recent member of the “European Route of Industrial Heritage” (ERIH). This is confirmed in a decorative certificate which now hangs in the museum in Luisenstrasse 15 for all to see.

The ERIH is an important tourism network with 1850 sites in 47 countries. The aim of the organisation is to link industrial heritage sites and visitor attractions. “The objective is to allow a more in-depth discovery of the industrial landscapes of the respective regions,” says Hansgeorg Hauser, head of the HdS museum. And: “Through our membership we can also include the left-bank region of the Rhine in the overall concept.”

For those who in future want to discover and see for themselves more about the common roots of European industrial history along one of the topic routes offered by ERIH, Luisenstrasse 15 in the “Town like Silk and Velvet“ offers a new link.

The location near to the railway station, a gas works and electric power station in the immediate vicinity provided ideal general conditions in the Wilhelmine period for the development of an industrial landscape in the once noble Krefeld Crown Prince District of Krefeld. It was against this background that the Hubert Gotzes Paramentenweberei – the present HdS – was established.

ERIH-President Dr. Maria Grewing therefore considers the membership of Haus der Seidenkultur to be an “additional asset within the options offered by the tourism network.” And: “Each industrial monument, each town, each workers’ estate forms part of this initially European and later world-wide development”. However, visitors seldom learn anything or only very little about this. At HdS this connection will be emphasised more clearly during guided tours in future.

This certificate indicates that Haus der Seidenkultur is now on the European Route of Industrial Heritage.

(veröffentlicht am 11.06.21)

In der ZDF-Trödelshow „Bares für Rares“ mit Horst Lichter ging im Mai ein Priestergewand über die (Händler-)Theke, dass nach einer langen Zeitreise jetzt nach rund 100 Jahren wieder an seinen Ursprungsort, der einstigen Paramentenweberei Hubert Gotzes, zurückkam. Dort, dem heutigen Haus der Seidenkultur, bekommt das gute Stück jetzt seinen Ehrenplatz.

Doch der Reihe nach: Vermutlich um 1920 wurde der „Chormantel“ – ein liturgisches Gewand, das von katholischen Priestern während der Messe getragen wurde – in der Paramentenweberei Hubert Gotzes angefertigt. Zumindest wurde es in den 50ziger Jahren im Unternehmen an der Luisenstraße 15 in Krefeld restauriert. Von dort landete das schmucke Gewand in Recklinghausen bei einem Ehepaar, das bei „Bares für Rares“ einen neuen Besitzer suchte.

In der Fernsehsendung erwarb es schließlich der Kunst- und Antiquitäten-Händler Thorsden Schlößner aus Kreuzau bei Düren. 400 Euro zahlte er für das Exponat, das die Expertin zuvor auf 150 bis 200 Euro geschätzt hatte. Doch genaugenommen war allen klar, dass das mit Goldfäden durchzogene Samt-Exponat weitaus mehr Wert ist. „Würde man heute ein solches Teil in Auftrag geben, müsste man um die 10.000 Euro auf den Tisch legen“, schätzt HdS-Sprecher Dieter Brenner.

Letzterer war es auch, der auf dem Facebook-Portal des Museums auf die Sendung hinwies und vermerkte: „Schön wäre es, wenn der Mantel wieder an seinen Ursprungsort zurückkäme; aber ob sich dafür Sponsoren finden?“ Und unmittelbar nach dieser Publikation, die auf Anhieb 3000 Klicks verzeichnete, fanden sich die ersten Geldgeber. Darunter der Krefelder Geschäftsmann Peter Oediger. „Mein Vater, der mit Krawatten handelte, hat mich durch seinen Beruf schon an das Thema der Textilstadt herangeführt“, sagt Oediger. Und: „Vor diesem Hintergrund war es für mich so eine Art Verpflichtung hier helfend einzusteigen.“

Letztlich war es aber Kunsthändler Schlößner selbst, „der seine Händlerinteressen weitgehend zurückgestellt und aus Sicht unseres Museums sehr gut gehandelt hat“, wie es Brenner während einer Pressekonferenz formulierte. Schlößner selbst sagt dazu: „Wenn ich sehe, dass ein besonderes Exponat eine besondere Öffentlichkeit - wie die eines Museums – bekommen kann, unterstütze ich solche Projekte sehr gerne.“

Nicht nur der Chormantel, sondern auch Thorsden Schlößner selbst fand jetzt seinen Weg nach Krefeld, wo der gelernte Schreiner früher sein Holz einkaufte. Beeindruckt zeigte sich der Händler von der grünen Krefelder Innenstadt und vom Zustand des alten Stadtbades, das der Fernsehmann – der ein Faible für den Jugendstil besitzt – unbedingt besuchen wollte. Auf dem „kurzen Dienstweg“ zwischen HdS und Stadtbad wurde dem Wunsche recht kurzfristig entsprochen.

Jetzt bekommt das durch „Bares für Rares“ bekanntgewordene Priestergewand im Museum an der Luisenstraße seinen Ehrenplatz. Und damit nicht genug: „Die Sponsorengelder ermöglichen uns, nach weiteren Priestergewändern Ausschau zu halten“, sagt Brenner. Eine Kirchenzeitung werde im Raum des Bistums Aachen bei dieser Suche behilflich sein. Daher der Sprecher abschließend: „Für uns brachte Bares für Rares wirklich sehr viel Wunderbares…!“

Nach einer langen Zeitreise kommt ein Priestergewand zurück an seinen Ursprungsort. Händler Thorsden Schlößner (links) hat es möglich gemacht, der hier vor laufender Kamera von HdS-Sprecher Dieter Brenner interviewt wird. Rechts im Bild mit Peter Oediger einer der Sponsoren, die dieses Projekt unterstützten.

Stippvisite im ehemaligen Freibad inmitten der Krefelder City. Thorsden Schlößner (links), der ein Faible für die Jugenstil-Ära hat, war begeistert.
HdS-Fotos: Christian van Doorn

(Published on 28.08.20)

The first live broadcast from our museum was a complete success. “You must definitely do the same again in future“, the Mayor of Krefeld Frank Meyer told museum chairman Hansgeorg Hauser. I sincerely congratulate you all on the successful premiere with the live broadcast to open the exhibition “Dog Whelks and Dyers’ Woad”. Perhaps this is the beginning of a new era in which Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS) came reach a much wider circle of those interested, wrote Dr. Hermann Schumacher, Chairman of the Creinvelt Association.
Here the feedback from Achim Wahl: “From my couch at home I was able to watch a very good and well planned exhibition opening. This certainly opens up new perspectives for the future regarding the presentation of our museum and our work.” And Klaus Drenk stated: “The HdS team has once again set new standards and positioned itself at the forefront of a new development.” The broadcast can be accessed via the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=67JzJDgy1sc

Andreas Bischof recorded what it was like behind the scenes during the broadcast. At the press of a button it was decided which picture from HdS went on air. .

Our curator Ulrike Denter (right) with Birgit Sievers-Schmitz. The god-daughter of the deceased textile engineer Gerhard Schlichtmann provide numerous exhibits for the exhibition which Schlichtmann had already contemplated during his lifetime. Mrs Sievers-Schmidt and her husband 

HdS-photo: Christian van Doorn

Press-spokesperson Dieter Brenner presented the first live broadcast from Haus der Seidenkultur.
Hd Photo: Christian van Doorn

This is an important premiere at Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS): The opening of the next exhibition “Dog Whelks and Dyers’ Woad” will be broadcast live in Internet in YouTube on Sunday, 23rd August starting at 11.00 hours
The exhibition opening will not just be filmed but expertly staged by the Covestro-Foto-Filmclub and video experts from the company yps. This means that all the friends of HdS can follow what is happening in the museum live.
If only a few people can actually be present in the museum due to Corona, then we simply go to the visitors“, says HdS press-spokesperson Dieter Brenner about the live broadcast premiere which was sponsored by the Sparkasse Krefeld.
Musical highlights from HdS events in the past year will visually and aurally complete the programme. A pleasure which the mayor Frank Meyer who will be present “live“ at HdS doesn’t want to miss.
If you wish to follow the event live you will find your “entrance ticket” in the Internet under the following links
https://youtu.be/DKWEy-n_x8g
or
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2hqWhf78m34FcSxWqrngIw/live
More about the content of our new exhibition which delves deeper into the development of textile dyeing can be found on this platform under Options/Exhibitional

Martha Prell was one of the first fashion designers in Krefeld. The creative lady studied at the Höhere Fachschule für Modegrafik und Mode (College for Fashion Design and Fashion), the forerunner of the Textile Engineering College, from 1940 to 1943. She was taught by Elisabeth Kadow, who made a name for herself in Krefeld as a Bauhaus graduate.
Today at the grand age of 95 years, Martha Prell is publicly exhibiting her fashion designs for the first time. This unique premiere is currently taking place at Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS). “We have dedicated a small studio exhibition to the designer in the historic tradesmens‘ corridor of our museum” says curator Dr. Ulrike Denter. She has succeeded in drawing the attention of the public to this rather modest and reserved textile artist. Now the widely travelled lady came to HdS to see the exhibition for herself.
“Even when I was a child my drawings were enthusiastically received by those around me”, Prell told our press spokesperson. She broke her leg at the age of ten and lay in hospital. “All the nurses wanted to see the drawings which I had made whilst lying in bed”, she remembers.
A great deal of persuasion was needed to convince her parents to let her embark on a career as a pattern designer as a young girl in 1940. Her father, who liked to sketch horses, did, however, give her support. Elisabeth Kadow very quickly recognised the talent of the young student who, with the backing of the well-known patron, was gladly accepted for a place at the “Lette School” in Berlin, an institution which served many young artists as a stepping stone into the fashion world.
And consequently some years later Martha Prell found herself at the fashion house “Schloss Grafenberg” near Düsseldorf. Here she designed creations for the high society of the time. “I was allowed to create fashion designs for star actresses like Elisabeth Flickenschildt and Christiane Hörbiger”, remembers Martha Prell looking back at an illustrious past which has now, in small measure, become alive again at Haus der Seidenkultur.
“We regard this small additional exhibition as the icing on the cake of what our museum offers. The aim is to provide an additional argument for visiting Haus der Seidenkultur in Luisenstrasse 15 in these times of Corona”, says curator Ulrike Denter. This exhibition can be viewed until the end of the year during the normal opening hours of the museum: Wednesday to Friday from 15.00 to 18.00 hours and Sundays from 13.00 to 17.00 hours.

At the grand age of 95, Martha Prell presents one of the designs she created as a fashion designer.

Here the design of a cocktail dress which was rather audacious for the 1940s. She has signed many of her works, as is the case here, with her maiden name Martha Leyking.

Waist-accentuated tops, colourful flared skirts with floral patterns, that is how Martha Prell imagined the fashion conscious lady in 1946.

HdS photos: Christian van Doorn

(veröffentlicht am 19.05.2020)

The mobile cinema film “Zurück in Krefeld” (Back in Krefeld) is dedicated to the Bandoneon. This instrument which has in the meantime conquered the world was developed in Krefeld more than 150 years ago. “This unique documentation was made possible through the cooperation between the Krefeld Office of Culture and a bandoneon artist”, says Wolfgang Volker from “Covestro Foto-Film-Club”.

This contribution was awarded the silver medal in the category “Best documentation” at the Federal Film Festival in Fuldabrück by the Bundesverband Deutscher Film-Autoren (BDFA). As a result the Krefeld film has been nominated for the Deutsche Autoren Film-Festival (DAFF) (German authors Film Festival) due to take place in June. This film can also be viewed in our “mobile cinema” until Whitsun under:.

https://covestro-ffc-krefeld.de/wanderkino/

Translators visited the museum in Krefeld

What was a Dutch teacher from Deventer doing on the central computer at Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS)? Answer: The Dutch teacher is Harold Pieters (54) and he translates the texts from the HdS Internet platform (www.seitdenkultur.de) from German into Dutch. “In this way our neighbours from Venlo, Den Haag and Amsterdam and the surrounding areas can more easily find out about our organisation”, says Chairman of the Museum, Hansgeorg Hauser describing the new service.
The translation project was initiated by the HdS museum volunteer Jürgen Reck. “During the volunteers’ excursion last year, a Belgian called Antony Vanslembrovck (74) gave the group a guided tour in the cathedral in Xanten. We were so fascinated by his combination of information and humour that I asked him whether he could possibly translate the German texts into Dutch for us“, says Reck.
As the Flemish speaking Belgian was well aware that Dutch and Flemish are slightly different, he asked his friend from Deventer to proof-read the texts. In the end it was Pieters who completely took over the project.
Recently all those involved met in the museum in the Luisenstrasse in Krefeld. Now that we have visited this amazing organisation we are particularly proud to be able to contribute to this great jewel,” said the two gentlemen from the Benelux who were served an original “Niederrheinische Kaffeetafel” at HdS as a thank you for their voluntary work.
In addition the new Benelux friends each received a necktie with one of the nostalgic patterns which were once woven at the Hubert Gotzes weaving workshop for ecclesiastical textiles. By the way: The Dutch word for necktie is “stropdas”, and this will also be communicated in the Internet by HdS in future.
 

The Benelux translation team at the central computer at Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS). Our picture shows (left) Chairman of the Museum Hansgeorg Hauser, Antony Vanslembrovck, Harold Pieters and Jürgen Reck, who established the contacts in the neighbouring countries.
HdS-Photo: Brenner

Silk routes of discovery through the town, now also for individuals

Haus der Seidenkultur HdS is starting the new year with numerous new options and an extended range of touristic choices in Krefeld. “Starting straightaway we will be offering regular walks or coach tours on the silk routes around the town”, says museum press-spokesperson Dieter Brenner. And: “In the past such tours were only available for group bookings but now individuals can take part.”
The first date for a two-hour “Town Coach Tour on the Silk Routes” is Friday, 13th March. The first “Town Silk Walk” will take place on Friday, 20th March. This includes a visit to the St. Dionysius parish church with a short tour of the church and organ music.

Meeting point for both tours is 12 noon at HdS in Luisenstrasse 15. The town coach tour costs €15 and the town walk €8 per person. For further information and reservation options please contact Tel: 02151- 9345355 or send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
“Our tours link the past, the present and the future of the textile town”, reveals Brenner describing the concept as “tours of discovery through the “Town like Silk and Velvet”. This applies in particular to the new town walk which is being offered in conjunction with the current exhibition “Crefeld in 3 D as it once was”.
14 dioramas (as we reported) currently on show at the museum depict what Krefeld looked like in the so often described good old times. “At the original locations we now see how the town has changed,” says Brenner, who is also acts as the town guide for HdS.

New options can also be found on the HdS internet platform where the museum shop is accessible around the clock under https://seidenkultur.de/shop/online-shop.
There is also news from the museum educationalists who will soon present their concept for 2020 which will include numerous interesting options for children and youngsters. Recently the museum staff have often been asked whether admission is free for children at HdS, - a measure which has just been introduced in the municipal museums. “That was always the case at HdS,” says museum Chairman Hansgeorg Hauser – HdS being the pioneer for free admission for children as it were.
In addition Hauser gave notice of the committee resolution that in future any person may attend the annual general meeting of the Association of Friends, not just members. Hauser: In this way our activities become more transparent and more people will be attracted to our voluntary cultural work for Krefeld.”

Here our town hall – once the town mansion of the von der Leyens – as it once was. The previous contruction was made of timber. HdSPhoto: Brenner

And this is what the Krefeld town hall of looks like today. HdS Photo: Wahl

This is Maryse Gaspard, once top model at Pierre Cardin. Today she is Directrice de la Haute Couture at the fashion czar‘s establishment. And what is the most fashion conscious lady in the world wearing? A silk scarf from Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS), naturally.

Three years ago Madame Gaspard visited HdS personally where there was a temporary exhibition commemorating the first European Fashion Oscar, the “Golden Spinning Wheel” awarded to Pierre Cardin by the town of Krefeld 53 years ago now. The realisation that fashion belongs in a museum has now also been acted upon by the “Düsseldorfer Kunstpalast” where the HdS team once again met up with Madame Gaspard who was happy to recall the “personal atmosphere” of the Cardin exhibition in the “Town like Silk and Velvet”.

In Düsseldorf, where the present Cardin exhibition can be visited until 5th January 2020, Madame Gaspard wore a scarf with the HdS gondola pattern. “Each of our historical patterns used for scarves and neckties is accompanied by a certificate describing the significance and the origin of the pattern”, says HdS spokesperson Dieter Brenner. And: “In Maryse Gaspard we once again have a prominent ambassador who literally takes our scarves around the whole world!”

“Anyone who wants to join the circle of fashion ambassadors can find the appropriate information material and arguments at the museum,” says Brenner promoting the museum shop which is, as of immediately, open around the clock online. This not only makes Father Christmas happy but also the Chairman of the Association of Friends, Hansgeorg Hauser: “The turnover during the Christmas period is an important source of income for us and we need this in order to continue contributing to the cultural scene in the town of Krefeld in future”, he says.
Anyone wanting to do their Christmas shopping at the museum has an opportunity to do so during normal opening hours, namely Wednesdays to Fridays from 15.00 to 18.00 hours and Sundays from 13.00 to 17.00 hours..

In Düsseldorf Madame Gaspard wore a scarf from Haus der Seidenkultur.
HdS-photo: Christof Denter

An amazing development: Where once the textile landscape flourished in the “Town like Silk and velvet”, the abandoned company premises have lain derelict for decades. Now new life is emerging in the former factory halls in various parts of the town, for example in the Mies van der Rohe Business Park at Girmesgath 5. New offices where creativity and innovation are at home are now being established in the listed buildings belonging to Verseidag.

In cooperation, we from the museum Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS) now offer guided tours on the historical premises. Former pupils of the Fichte Gymnasium (Grammar School) who took their school leaving examination there 62 years ago took the opportunity to book this tour. .

During the tour Janina Hofius (left) combined the past, the present and the future of Verseidag which continues to produce fabrics in Industriestrasse. Nowadays however, these are not silk and velvet but high-tech textiles. For example the textile roofs of the Olympic stadiums in Berlin and Munich came from Krefeld – a fascinating story which we are happy to relate in the museum. And why the new central bus terminus Ostwall – Rheinstrasse should have a glass roof seems very strange to us.

HdS-photo: Brenner

Quite a few companies regularly acquired neckties and silk pocket squares from HdS.  One such company is TROX from Neukirchen-Vluyn which wanted to give its employees a uniform look for the ISH Trade Fair in Frankfurt. The ISH is the global leading trade fair and international meeting point for those involved in the responsible handling of water and energy in buildings. It sets the trend for modern bathroom design, sustainable heating and air-conditioning technology and intelligent living.

Hansgeorg Hauser, Chairman of the Association of Friends, established the link to TROX. “We have fitted out the entire TROX trade fair team with silk neckties and pocket squares which were specially patterned, woven and tailored in Krefeld”, says Hauser proudly. TROX is a leading company in the development, production and sale of components, machines and systems for the ventilation and air-conditioning of rooms.

Photo: TROX-GmbH

Our small rolls of patchwork fabric are very popular in the museum shop. “We can hardly keep up with the production”, says Ingrid Cemin who as a member of the volunteer team is responsible for recycling the neck-tie fabric remnants. A customer from Wuppertal made an amazing bag instead of a necktie from our fabric rolls which are really a bargain at €1.50 from the HdS shop.  “It is possible to make attractive items which cost very little money”, says Cemin who is very pleased about the wealth of ideas. Patchwork creativity therefore knows no bounds.  What have you made with our fabric? Send us a photo per email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and with your permission we will post the photo on our internet platforms. 

HdS-Photo: Private

A group of eleven silk experts from Uzbekistan visited the “Town like Silk and Velvet” on Monday, 11th March to learn more about the past, present and future of the textile town. “Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS) was of course the right address to have a complete Krefeld Day organised for us”, says Frank Wältring, who was looking after the foreign guests during their tour around Germany lasting several days for the agency “Mesopartner”.

The participants from the organisation “UZBEKIPAKSANOAT” represent the silk producing companies in Uzbekistan and is supported by the government. The aim of the trip was to find out more about Germany, to exchange views with the relevant protagonists from the silk sector, to gain an insight into modern, resource-saving production processes and data processing methods in textile production. 

The future of the textile town was the main focus during the visit to the Verseidag successor “Indutex”. High-tech textiles are now being produced at this textile company which was once the largest textile company in the silk town.  “The roofs of the Olympic Stadium in Berlin and Munich are supported by textile structures which were developed and produced in Krefeld,” explained the Technical Director of the Company, Jürgen Nitsche. The production site is located on Industriestrasse on premises which bear the signature of the German Bauhaus architect Mies van der Rohe.

The guests from Asia asked whether Verseidag could envisage a production site in Uzbekistan. Nitsche replied: „We have not yet considered this possibility but one should never say never ...!“After lunch in the historic “Wienges” brewery a visit to HdS was on the programme. The visitors were very impressed by the only Jacquard hand-loom workshop preserved at its authentic location in Europe. “Here one can really see the roots of  the textile town.”  

Following the visit to the museum, the group went on a town tour “on silk routes”. HdS press-spokesperson Dieter Brenner acted as the town guide and presented live and in colour the very varied aspects of the town. Having experienced a highly contrasting day in the “Town like Silk and Velvet”, the guests remarked that “Krefeld is large and very green”.

The entire visit was accompanied by the GIZ – der Deutschen Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (German Society for International Cooperation).

The delegation from Uzbekistan in the foyer at Verseidag.  Jürgen Nitsche (3rd from right) gave an insight into the company. Also there were two representatives from Haus der Seidenkultur, where the Krefeld Day was planned and carried out for the foreign guests.                                       

Photo: HdS