Haus der Seidenkultur is holding an exhibition to commemorate this

On 25th November 1966 the “Fashion Oscar”, the “Golden Spinning Wheel” was awarded for the first time in Krefeld, the “Town like Silk and Velvet”; to the well-known French couturier Pierre Cardin. Almost 50 years to the day, Haus der Seidenkultur (HdS), is opening an exhibition to commemorate this. From 27th November 2016 until 5th March 2017 this historic event will come alive again. Prominent guests will be present on this occasion for the vernissage in the Krefeld museum in Luisenstrasse, namely Jean-Pascal Hesse the press spokesperson and “shadow” of Pierre Cardin and the former star mannequin and current Directrice de Haute couture, Maryse Gaspard.  
“At first the organisation of this exhibition was not without its complications” says curator Klaus Drenk (also HdS board member), who searched in many archives and together with his team tied the threads to France. Drenk: “Pierre Cardin and those around him were immediately enthusiastic about our idea and promised us their full support for the exhibition “pierre cardin 1966 – 2016'.”
Original models from Paris will therefore span a fashion period from 1966 to just before 2000. On show are dresses and accessories such as shoes, scarves, caps and hats.  
The presentation of the “Golden Spinning Wheel”, a completely sold-out gala evening held in the luxury “Krefelder Hof” hotel on the Ostwall is depicted on a large photo display. The reasons why this presentation hung on a silken thread can be found in a document written by the then Transport Director for Krefeld and Head of Marketing at Verseidag, Herbert Maeger. He referred to a dramatic background to the programme of the event. 
One of the reasons was that Cardin’s flight was delayed. Here too, the exhibition throws light on previously unknown incidents surrounding the spectacular presentation which were recorded for posterity by press photographer Karl-Heinz Lengwenings. “These are the historically significant exhibits in our exhibition”, says co-curator Ilka Neumann, who is primarily responsible for the layout of the eye-catcher. 
In the WDR archives, HdS press spokesman Dieter Brenner has found a television film made for the programme “Hier und Heute” 50 years ago and dedicated to the “Golden Spinning Wheel”. In this film the then president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Erich Selbach, speaks and announces that the Krefeld textile industry had reported an annual turnover of 3.3 billion Marks. “A sum which provides the breeding ground for such award presentations”, as Selbach imagined “Krefeld to be in lockstep with the fashion centres of the world”.
Jean-Pascal Hesse, Pierre Cardin’s press spokesman is particularly looking forward to seeing this film. He has spent a third of his life at the side of the fashion czar, travelling across all continents with him, organising fashion shows in the middle of the Gobi Desert and stage-managing many spectacles such as those held in the “Espace Cardin” Art Park in Paris. This will also be included in the Krefeld exhibition which opens on Sunday, 27th November at Haus der Seidenkultur. 
The exhibition “pierre cardin 1966 – 2016” can be visited at Haus der Seidenkultur in Krefeld until 5th March 2017 during the opening hours - Wednesday to Friday from 15.00 to 18.00 hours and Sundays from 13.00 to 17.00 hours. There is a guide tour on the 1st and 3rd Sundays in the month at 14.00 hours. Special appointments can be made for groups under Tel. 02151-510812 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

  

Pierre Cardin 50 years ago during an interview on the presentation of the “Golden Spinning Wheel” in Krefeld
HdS Photo: Town Archives Krefeld



Highlight of the award presentation: A fashion show with Pierre Cardin models in the luxury “Krefelder Hof” hotel. 
HdS-Photo: Town Archives Krefeld
 
 

The Krefeld-based jeweller Carl Kammen prepares the “Golden Spinning Wheel” now on show at Haus der Seidenkultur for the “Arbeitskreis Mode Krefeld” (Study Group Fashion Krefeld)
Photo: WDR