NOH NEE receives the “Innovation Prize for Folk Culture 2017”

Mitarbeiter Noh Nee

We are grateful, happy and proud: On Friday, Dr. Hans-Georg Küppers, cultural representative, presented us with the "Innovation Prize for Folk Culture 2017" from the state capital of Munich! The city's council of elders has decided that WE are worthy of this prize - what an honor. An accolade for our dirndls and proof that our concept is coherent and well received: We want to connect people and cultures! Read for yourself, here is an excerpt from the reasoning:


"Rahmée Wetterich and Marie Darouiche have been enriching the Munich cultural scene in an extraordinary way since 2010. The two sisters, born in Cameroon, have created an unmistakable connection between Bavarian and African culture through their extraordinary creations. Fashion is at the heart of their work and so, based on traditional dirndl cuts in combination with typical African fabrics, an enchanting transformation of traditional costume is created that is unparalleled. Traditional costume has always been and still is fashion. Without the changes in fashion, the multifaceted wearing variants and styles of dirndl garments would never have come about. This diversity is always visible in the models of 'NOH NEE'.

No two dirndls are the same in terms of cut and fabric composition. The fabrics from Africa take things to the next level, with their extravagant patterns showing immense liveliness and joie de vivre. But they also create a direct connection to Bavarian culture. The African cotton fabrics have a long tradition, as do the cuts of Bavarian costumes. Both are based on tradition and give rise to something completely new and unexpected - a groundbreaking interplay of culture, fashion and tradition accompanied by a creative, exciting exchange of world cultures. This concept speaks for itself. 'NOH NEE' - which means 'gift from God' - not least because each item of clothing is unique and individually tailored to the wearer. The creations have long been attracting a lot of attention beyond Munich, even in the international fashion world.

In addition, 'NOH NEE' is very involved in Africa itself. It's not just about selling African-style dirndls. Africa itself should also benefit from it. For Rahmée Wetterich, it is always crucial to act on an equal footing with people and to focus on transparency and fairness. In a pilot project, an African seamstress has already been trained to create dirndls with simple cuts in Benin. A training center for seamstresses is currently being set up. In this way, 'NOH NEE' enables women in particular to lead a more self-determined life."

We say THANK YOU!

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