Prussia for most of the 19th and early 20th century, but the city remained an important international centre of the arts, and Königsallee its foremost boulevard. After 1946, with Düsseldorf's new weight as state capital of the economically most powerful state of Germany, and the city's location at the heart of the largest metropolitan region in Germany, caused the German fashion industry to consolidate Düsseldorf as one of the world’s fashion capitals. An open-air fashion show on Königsallee initiated the first Igedo Fashion Fair in 1949, which over the years grew to become one of the world's largest fashion fairs. Since 1981 the biannual Düsseldorf Fashion Shows are held as Collection Premiers Düsseldorf (cpd) - primarily at Messe Düsseldorf Exhibition Centre, but showrooms throughout the city. The Northeastern section has recently been redeveloped with a 40,000 m² office and retail complex called "Kö-Bogen", designed by architect Daniel Libeskind. The first sections were opened in 2014. Assortment Many major designers have a presence on Königsallee, so that a roll call reads like a "who's who" of the international fashion industry. Products offered range from luxury fur coats to high-end electronics for audiophiles, and the gamut in between. The following list is an overview of some of the most notable stores. An extended scope and range of shops, brands and services goes on other nearby streets. Stores Hotels Breidenbacher Hof InterContinental Steigenberger Parkhotel In popular culture The Königsallee is referred to in Herbert Grönemeyer's 1984 hit Bochum. The singer compares it to the Königsallee in Bochum (an unimpressive thoroughfare) and infers that “big money” counts in Düsseldorf, but “the heart” in Bochum. Places of interest nearby Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus, theater Deutsche Oper am Rhein, opera house Kunstsammlung Nordrhein-Westfalen K20 and K21 stilwerk Düsseldorf See also District 1, Düsseldorf NRW Forum List of leading shopping streets and districts by city List of canals in Germany References External links Many photos on bilderbuch-duesseldorf.de Königsallee interest group Igedo Company düsseldorf fashion house Streets in Düsseldorf Boulevards Shopping districts and streets in Germany Canals in Germany Gardens in North Rhine-Westphalia Landmarks in Germany German fashion Tourist attractions in Düsseldorf Canals opened in 1804