Business – Finance

Archive for November, 2011

Florists throughout England, Scotland and Wales – be it florists in Cardiff or florists in Swansea – are seemingly getting caught up in a new craze sweeping through the UK of using real flowers to create amazing fashion items.

From hats and fascinators to the most stunning dresses, flower enthusiasts are letting their imaginations run wild and creating some pretty snazzy accessories and items of clothing that are turning heads from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

It may appear to the untrained eye to be nigh on impossible to turn the kind of everyday flowers Bridgend locals and their counterparts in every UK town and city usually give to celebrate a special occasion into a piece of wearable fashion, but that’s exactly what the Interflora trio of Charlotte Baker, Janet Hodgson and Vicky Rymell have done.

The three talented florists are leading the way in bringing together the world of fashion with the world of flowers and the end results have got people of all ages excited and prompted them to think about how they can get involved in the new trend.

Baker and Rymell are work colleagues at Hubbards Florist in Coventry and decided earlier this year to enter the birthday shop window competition at the prestigious RHS Flower Show Tatton. A hat was then created featuring an array of blues, purples and yellows and clearly made the right impression on the judges as the duo walked away with first prize.

“It was brilliant to win,” said Baker in the Coventry Telegraph.

“We chose the theme because we like all the colours and we only had a few months to prepare. I love competing because it gives me a real buzz as well as the chance to really develop my skills and experience.”

It certainly proved an experience that Baker is unlikely to forget in a hurry and it’s as yet unclear whether the pair intend to enter any more competitions in the future. If they do, though, they may fancy following in the footsteps of Hodgson.

Hodgson was asked if she would create a special something to celebrate the first year that Bury’s The Rock shopping mall has been open. She definitely did that as she rolled out a breath-taking dress made from amaranthus, germini, hydrangeas, roses and orchids.

“I have to admit that when I first saw it on the model it looked so fabulous that I cried!” said Hodgson.

“It was a very proud moment for me. It was such fun!”