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Koenigsallee: Germany's Fashion Hub
Features - May 04, 2003
When
speaking of Dusseldorf, people tend to think not only of trade and the
fair city, but also of Germany's fashion industry. Every year,
world-famous designers flock to Dsseldorf to attend the most important
fashion fair and show in the world.
The Collection Premieren Dsseldorf, which presents fashion, is held
twice a year, in the spring/summer and autumn/winter. Around 1,700
exhibitors from 39 countries present their collections, making the
trade fair complex the largest catwalk in the world for three days.
Dusseldorf's debut as a world fashion hub started in Konigsalle, when
the first fashion show was staged there in 1949. Igedo organized the
first fashion fair in the same year, which has now become the largest
fashion fair in the world.
The history of Germany's fashion industry cannot be separated from
K”nigsallee, and a stroll to K”nigsallee is essential, to see the
world's latest fashion trends.
K”nigsalle, popularly called K™, is one of Dsseldorf's prominent
boulevards, apart from the Rhine embankment promenade. It has now
become a tourist attraction in itself. K™ is internationally known as a
shopping paradise for first-rate collections.
Strolling down the boulevard, you find many world-famous designer
brands, ranging from Germany's Lagerfeld to Italy's Armani, with
branded perfumes and jewelry, too.
The gallery is a sophisticated and luxurious arcade. Not only are there
shops but also upmarket restaurants and cafes. Merchandise in the 130
shops is arranged in a very elegant way.
Eye-catching lighting is combined with pretty accessories, making them
all look bright and lavish. However, don't ask about the prices! A pair
of branded pants in the trendy, luxury, top-end boutiques could be
twice the cost of my return flight ticket. "This is my favorite place to hang out," said Asih, an Indonesian tourist visiting Dsseldorf.
As in other German shopping centers, display lighting in shops is never
turned off, even when the shops are closed. This attracts passersby at
all hours.
The paths of K”nigsallee are divided by a moat, and chestnut trees were
planted alongside the moat. The shaded, 800-meter boulevard makes
window-shopping attractive. In the summer, along this shaded pavement,
outdoor cafes are open to cater for window-shoppers.
K”nigsalle's debut as a world-class shopping boulevard began in the
beginning of the 20th century when the first shop was established
there. Since the end of World War II, its position as a world-class
shopping boulevard was assured.
Due to the presence of the trees planted on the boulevard, the street
was formerly known as Kastanienallee (Chestnut Avenue) but renamed
K”nigsalle (Kings Avenue) in 1848 when horse manure was thrown at King
Friedrich Wilhelm IV in an infamous incident. It was also on K™ that flamboyant German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld discovered German supermodel Claudia Schiffer. -- Wahyuni Kamah
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