The elegant and cosy Couture Salon is located directly on the Königsallee in the historic Girardet House – an oasis of peace and relaxation: muted colours, velvety armchairs, discreet floral decorations, fine pastries. Vis-à-vis the flagship store of the Demi-Couture collection.
In the studio on the first floor, 20 tailors at large tables between fabric bales, design drawings and colourful yarn reels take care of the realisation of the unique pieces. Here buttons are elaborately embroidered with tiny pearls, small silk blossoms and lace details are applied, hems and edges are sewn by hand with the finest stitches and shoes are designed to match each outfit. Every ensemble is a small masterpiece.
Helga Grünwoldt-Okan, born in Warburg in Westphalia, completed her tailoring apprenticeship in the state capital Düsseldorf in one of the most prestigious German ateliers, where the Dutch royal family also belonged to the customers. After passing her master’s examination, the young designer then worked in a couture house in Berlin before presenting her first collection at the Parkhotel in Düsseldorf in 1974.
For more than 40 years, as an entrepreneur and designer she stands for Haute Couture in Düsseldorf – since 1993 under the brand name “PIO O’KAN”. Since 2016, a Demi-Couture collection complements the offering to sophisticated women who are looking for off-the-shelf perfection and want to distance themselves from multinational brands and the mass market.