Helga Grünwoldt-Okan
Trained in the high art of women's tailoring and shaped by the great Düsseldorf couture ateliers of her time, she founded her first own atelier in 1967. With her first couture collection, which she presented in 1974 at the Düsseldorf Parkhotel, she laid the foundation for a fashion house whose signature has remained unmistakable to this day.
Helga Okan designs for women with personality. Her fashion does not follow fleeting trends but rather an idea of timeless beauty: clear lines, feminine silhouettes, precious materials, and a fit that understands not only a woman's body but also her character. Each design emerges from the interplay of intuition, experience, and masterful precision – always with the aim of putting the wearer at the center without disguising her.
This philosophy continues to shape PIO O’KAN today. Couture and ready-to-wear combine the tradition of the house with a modern, effortless elegance. PIO O’KAN stands for individuality instead of staging, for consistency instead of arbitrariness, and for luxury that doesn't have to be loud to be palpable.
At the heart of it all is always the woman: her personality, her desires, and the confident feeling of being completely herself.
1960s
As a young girl, Helga Okan (née Grünwoldt) completed an apprenticeship as a tailor for women's clothing in her hometown of Warburg, passing her journeyman's examination at the age of 19.
Even then, she was fascinated by Düsseldorf, the city of fashion, and spent three exciting and instructive journeyman years in various fashion salons, including with Düsseldorf's "fashion czar" Hanns Friedrichs.
This was followed by attending the master school in Koblenz. The 22-year-old passed her master examination with distinction and was at that time not only the best but also the youngest master tailor in Germany.
After an approximately two-year intermezzo in Berlin, Helga Okan returned to Düsseldorf and worked as a directrice until 1966, once again for the already famous fashion designer Hanns Friedrichs.
1967
Starting out as an entrepreneur. With a lot of skill and diligence – "I worked every night and every weekend and taught sewing classes on the side," she recalls – she built up her own client base and started her first fashion studio with three employees in her Düsseldorf apartment.
1970
After her wedding, she moved back to her hometown of Warburg and opened a new fashion salon there under the name "Helga Kienel Couture" – together with many employees, she dressed the ladies of society.
1972
This was followed by the grand opening of her exclusive fashion boutique in Westerland on Sylt.
1974
Helga Okan returned to Germany's fashion capital, Düsseldorf. At the Parkhotel there, she presented her first couture collection. Fifty women from Düsseldorf society were immediately enchanted – and many remain loyal customers today. Her success allowed her to move into her atelier on Königsstraße in 1975.
1977 - 1985
The studio on Königsstraße quickly became too small as the customer base grew. Soon, clients came not only from Düsseldorf but regularly from both Germany and abroad to select their collection for the upcoming season.
Therefore, the next move to larger premises on Blumenstraße took place as early as 1977, where the Couture Salon was located until 1985.
1988
After the 1980s were marked by private events such as the birth of her son Philippo in 1985, Helga Okan restarted her career in 1988 after a break of several years – initially with an exclusive men's shirt collection. This was the birth of the brand name PIO O'KAN.
1990
A short time later, in 1990, a collection of high-quality blouses followed, developed in her new Düsseldorf studio in the elegant Zooviertel and produced in Switzerland. By then, the first employees had long been hired.
And because contact with her couture clients had never been lost, Helga Okan once again designed couture dresses "on the side," so to speak – under the new name PIO O’KAN. The clients were happy, as they had been waiting for a new collection from Helga Okan.
2009
Move to Königsallee – the couture salon in the noble Girardet House has opened. The internationally renowned Italian designer Francesco Molon was commissioned for the interior design. The exclusive couture salon and the atelier have been located here ever since.
2016
The company is setting the course for the future and is not only presenting its first ready-to-wear collection but is also opening its first flagship store right next to the Haute Couture Salon.
2019
Philippo Okan joins the company as managing director to further develop the family business together with studio manager Mirjam Zwick and designer Hawe Klein.
2020
The company is using the coronavirus crisis to give the exclusive premises on Königsallee a fresh, modern look.
2025
The fashion house PIO O’KAN is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Around 150 invited guests gathered at the Girardet House on Königsallee for the occasion. A fashion show combined current prêt-à-porter designs and selected couture models with pieces from the company archive. Among the guests were long-standing customers who had already experienced the first collection from founder Helga Okan.