Our Dutch friend had invited us to the Atelier néerlandais which was established in 1957 and is one of the oldest foreign cultural centres in Paris as we later on learnt. It organises a wide range of cultural events, including exhibitions, concerts, screenings, seminars, lectures, debates and Dutch language classes. In addition, it plays a mediating role between French and Dutch cultural institutions and artists.
The designer Christian Lagerwaard is Dutch with German roots and had won the prestigious 'Prix Guy Laroche' during the "Concours de Couture" which was held for talented young designers in the Netherlands (1985) at the age of 20. His talent did not stay unnoticed. He was given an exceptional job opportunity by Emanuel Ungaro Paris in 1992, where he experienced the secrets of High Fashion design and craftsmanship. In the year 2000 Christian was invited by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in France to present his collection in Paris.
The rest is history. As we sat admiring the tall, slinky models walking through the Hausmannien flat painted white for the occasion, we could tell the designer definitely has a preference of 3D effects and female silhouettes. His summer/spring collection was made of natural fabrics and exceptional craftsmanship that are always important keys. Admittedly, we were as intrigued by the clothes as we were by the models. A glass of champagne to top off the event and we all went home with a twinkle in our eyes.
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