| In Antwerp (Belgium) there
is a very special hatstore called ‘Hoedensalon CRZ’
On 1 April 1992 the
Dutch hatdesigner Caroline de Roy van Zuydewijn (18-05-1961) and her
husband the artist Jozef Bloks (11-05-1951) opened in the Netherlands (in Eindhoven)
the unique combination of the first and only ‘Hoedensalon and Hoedencafé’
(Hatstore and Hatpub) located in the same building.
The Hatpub downstairs and
the Hatstore on the first floor. Unique in the Netherlands and probably in the whole
world!
Promotion action! During the first
year people who were wearing a hat
got their first cup of tea (or an other drink) for free. Those who were interested in hats
were invited by Caroline to have a look in her Hatstore upstairs. The whole idea
was all about promoting the hat. And it worked! The media appointed in a
very short time the Hoedensalon and the Hoedencafé to a well-known phenomenon
and Caroline became a known hatdesigner. The Hoedensalon and Hoedencafé
were the prove that the hat had the right to exist again. A lot of young
hatdesigners became inspired and their number still grows day by day.
Caroline and Jozef presented a
lot of Hat-activitives like: exhibitions, workshops, a yearly hat-ball,
lectures about ‘the hat’ (hold by well-known art-historians, journalists,
cultural advisors) etc. Even a Dutch fashion television programme (RTL 4),
presented by the well-known Mrs. Leontine Ruiters (the wife on the famous Dutch
singer Marco Borsato) was recorded in the Hoedensalon.
The media payed very much
attention to all these activitives around ‘the hat’. For one of the most
important activitives, namely a lecture called ‘High Tea & Trying on Hats’,
the well-known and largest Dutch womenmagazine ‘Libelle’ published a full
advertisement page for free. The result was that thousands of women from
all over the Netherlands and even people from Belgium and Germany visited the
Hoedensalon. For more than three years this programme was every day completely sold
out! (This lecture ‘High
Tea & Trying on Hats’ is a educative and relaxing programme for young and old,
in which Caroline shows all kinds of hats while she tells the history of the hat.
Visiters (mostly women) can also try on hats and after that they become an English
High Tea.)
The Hoedensalon moves to
Antwerp (Belgium)
Eindhoven became litteral and
figurative too small. In the year 2000 the Hoedencafé was sold and the
Hoedensalon moved to Antwerp. Caroline and Jozef choosed for
Antwerp because as a city of fashion it was enormous in devellopment. The
fashionproject ‘Fashion 2001 Landed’ by the worldfamous Belgian designer
Walter Van Beirendonck that should start in May 2001, the fashion museum
‘MoMu’ that soon after that should open, were reasons enough to move to Antwerp
and to start there under the new name ‘Hoedensalon CRZ’.
Since 2001 Hoedensalon CRZ is
part of many city- and fashionwalks.
VIPS... Already
a lot of very special people visited Hoedensalon CRZ or do wear a hat made by Caroline de
Roy van Zuydewijn.
VIPS like:
Prinses Irene, Leontine Borsato-Ruiters,
de
Pointer Sisters, Simon Vinkenoog, Herman Pieter
de Boer, Sandra Naelaerts,
Walter van Beirendonck, Martine Preenen,
Kees van Kooten. Karin Bloemen, Sylvia Kristel, Della Bosiers, Carmen Seth, Jean-Marie Pfaff, Vader Abraham (Pierre
Kartner), Dana Winner, Kim Gevaert, Kelly Pfaff, Céline Du Caju (Miss
Belgian Beauty 2006), Pieter Porters, Victoria Koblenko, Mieke Laureys,
Serge-Henri Valcke and many others.
Caroline de Roy van Zuydewijn
designed the hat of princess Irene for the wedding of prince Willem-Alexander
and princess Maxima from the Netherlands in 2002 and in 2003 she designed many hats
for the wedding of prince Laurent and princess Claire from Belgium.
Every year she designs hats for
Prinsjesdag in Holland and also she gives her comments in
the media. (On Prinsjesdag Queen Beatrix does the 'Speeche of the Throne' and all
the ladies from parliament do wear a hat / This is a very unique event in the
world.) (Pictures click here!)
Because of her large experience
and knowlege of 'The World of Hats', hatdesigner Caroline de Roy van Zuydewijn
is regular asked for advices, lectures, presentations and interviews.
At Royal Events, like
for example
the wedding of Prince Laurent and Princess Claire from Belgium, Caroline
explained in the Belgian medea (television) the etiquettes of wearing a hat.
Click here
for more information and view for example photo's of
Princess Mathilde!
from Belgium!
Caroline performed in television
programmes such as 'Royalty' VTM Belgium, 'Blauw Bloed' EO The
Netherlands and 'Hallo Deutschland' (25 years Queen Beatrix on the throne)
ZDF Germany.
She becomes a lot of
attention in the media. For a summary of television performances,
articles in newspapers and glossy magazines look at
Summary of Press Articles
1990-2009
For example in Februari 2002 the WALL STR. JOURNAL called 'Hoedensalon CRZ' one of thé interesting places in
Antwerp. A place where you can try on hats and drink a nice cup of
tea while hatdesigner Caroline de Roy van Zuydewijn shows all kinds
of hats and tells you the history of the hat.
Book 'Ontwerpers
van Oranje' 2008 by Els Smit.
Caroline de Roy van Zuydewijn was mentioned in
this book, in combination with a nice picture of Princess Irene with the Royal
Blue hat which she made for this Princess (from the Netherlands). This book
contains a lot of never before published information about who designed which
clothes, hats or jewelry for the Royal family of the Netherlands. It is a
historical reference book from Queen Wilhelmina untill Princess Maxima!
Visit Hoedensalon CRZ at
http://www.hoedensalon.com or make a appointment to meet Caroline and Jozef!
 To
get a impression of the handmade hats made by Caroline, take a look at some
special hats from her
exclusive collection!
Adress:
Oude Koornmarkt 62
2000 Antwerp
Belgium
Phone: 0032 (3) 2335928
Email:
info@hoedensalon.com
City Map, click here!
Photo: Caroline and Jozef
Her husband the artist Jozef Bloks has his
own museum on the internet. So if you are interested in his art?
Click here www.jozefbloksmuseum.be |
