The first event of "Il sarto immortale: Couture" took place in the "Kunstverein Wiesbaden" in September and October 1997. During the set up time, the exhibition room was initially changed into a tailor's workshop. Two seamstresses started to work together with the artist to transform the printed material into the clothing of the collection.

Visitors to another exhibit which was taking place at the same time had access to the tailor's workshop and were able to experience for themselves the process of the collection's creation. A form of waiting and changing room was set up in the studio's lobby. This room was furnished with a mirror and a hanging rail, on which the finished clothing was hung. There was a monitor on a small table showing the video "Hautnah".

In preparation for the installation, the artist visited several tailor's studios and photographically documented the work process. These "photos", which were taken during the investigation, hung on the walls of the lobby for the purposes of demonstration. When the set up was completed, the "tailor's studio" was frozen as an installation: at 7:00 p.m. on October 3, 1997 - at the event's opening - the clock was stopped and the room was left as it appeared in this last moment, with finished and unfinished pieces of clothing, hanging threads, patterns, pieces of fabric on the floor, a radio left on, etc.