 
|
Natural Legacy award - Annemarie Lindner receives the “Oscar” of natural cosmetics.29.09.2005
Annemarie Börlind, the brand name for natural beauty is the work of Annemarie Lindner. The pioneer of natural cosmetics has been awarded the “Oscar” of the American natural products branch, the Natural Legacy Award. She received this award on 20th September 2005 in New York’s Goethe Institute. |
|
|
The beauty scene was well represented at the awards ceremony: journalists as well as the most important representatives of the natural food business. But before shaking Annemarie Lindner’s hand or indulging in small talk with her and her son Michael they are firstly fascinated. Alone the imposing architecture of entrance to the art neuveau room in the Goethe Institute is worth a second glance, - a realm for the senses created by star florist Ramon Raminez in the old villa on 5th Avenue. On a cloth of linden green the artist has displayed aloe vera, roses, chamomile, yarrow, witch hazel – all the plants that stand for Annemarie Lindner’s cosmetics - for the products which carry the name Annemarie Börlind. Fantastic bouquets are placed next to daring flower arrangements. Real (!) mushrooms sprout from luscious grass carpets as if it were the most natural of habitats. Rounding off this magnificent display is the pervading scent of all the flowers and herbs which give Annemarie Börlind’s creams and lotions their unmistakable note. The tubes, jars and bottles are harmonically incorporated into this unique presentation. Ramon Ramirez only allowed a discreet splash of color in the art neuveau room itself. The heavy dark wooden paneling offers a worthy atmosphere for the celebration which is rounded off by tasteful piano music. So, there stands Annemarie Lindner, “Lucky Lindner” as the American magazine “Natural Foods Merchandiser” affectionately referred to her in their September issue. The 85 year old pioneer of natural cosmetics treated herself to a hair dressing appointment in the Big Apple before this important occasion. She went to Thomas Heinz, who was born and grew up in Saarbrücken, and now lives in New York. He conjured a wonderfully light hair style for Annemarie Lindner. A treat to behold. But nothing shone in comparison with the face of the award winner – the best advertisement for her cosmetics, which she originally produced in desperation as a young woman suffering from skin problems. “I am completely overwhelmed to be receiving such a prize” said Annemarie Lindner. She does not doubt that she earned it “I really was the pioneer of natural cosmetics”. “I don’t put anything on my skin that I can’t eat” she explained in her short thank you speech. She has always remained true to this principle. At the time in the GDR where she built up her successful cosmetic business until the communist state power dispossessed her, and when starting over new at the end of the 1950’s in the West, where she restarted her business under the most spartan of conditions. Extending from the Black Forest the Annemarie Börlind products have traversed boundaries. The cosmetic products created by Annemarie Lindner are now at home in more than 30 countries. Her triumph in America began 25 years ago. She was received with enthusiasm from the very beginning “ her passion and charisma convinced us right from the start” praised Polly Kulow, boss of the US importer Börlind of Germany. “A legend in her own lifetime” not only in Germany, but internationally and, as the Natural Legacy Award documents, particularly in the USA. Natural cosmetics can be found in America since the beginning of the 1980’s. although their quality must have been doubtful from today’s view point. Polly Kulow speaks about “kitchen products” mixed together any old how. Only vague indications gave any information as to ingredients. What Annemarie Lindner introduced was completely different: her products were tested in the company’s own research laboratory, each individual ingredient analyzed and tested for skin-compatibility – completely free from any ingredient obtained from dead animals. With the Natural Legacy Award the publisher of the Natural Food Merchandiser, New Hope, honors the life’s work of the company president from the Black Forest. Other receivers of this prize include Andrew Weil, pioneer of alternative medicine, and Dave Vetter an initiator of organic farming. All personalities which feel tied to the heritage of nature (natural legacy) – as Annemarie Lindner. She consistently follows her own maxim, that as far as possible only natural ingredients obtained from nature can be found in Annemarie Börlind cosmetics. Television interview with Annemarie Lindner |
||
| ||||||||||||||