Settle petal: How flowers are making their way back into fashion

“You can feel this jungle-y mood trickling through from fashion weeks with the anthurium on the runway and beautiful big green leaves in fashion,” Havekes says. “People are reconnecting to nature through clothing and we are seeing it with the arrangements we create too. It makes you feel very fresh.”

In September Havekes travelled to Paris, installing a lavish garden in the Petit Palais for Australian label Zimmermann’s European runway debut. Havekes raided a nursery in Spain for the foliage, returning the plants after the show in the interest of sustainability.

“It was a proud moment but creating a video show with Zimmermann during the COVID-19 lockdowns, showcasing the beauty of Australian native plants was another highlight.”

Havekes has seen the move away from pretty petals towards foliage and plants trickle down to orders from customers.

“Young people seem to be seeking this beautiful intake of oxygen with what they bring into their homes. There’s a great attraction to rare plants and different varieties of orchids. It can be quite a challenge to source these plants.”

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Jenkins takes more of an anti-fashion approach to his orders. While making use of the on-trend anthurium, flowers once regarded as a fashion faux pas have become favourites in his work.

“In March I worked on a project that made use of gerberas, which prompted quite the response from people who confessed to not having touched them since the nineties,” Jenkins says. “I’m also quite partial to a carnation.”

Along with anthurium and the shift to greenery, Havekes is still loyal to the magnolia, which has been central to her business since launching Grandiflora more than 20 years ago.

“Working with fashion brands helps you push your boundaries, be brave and learn new things but it’s always good to have a signature,” Havekes says. “Thankfully, I snapped that up years ago so no one else can get their hands on it. It’s as synonymous with who we are as the anthurium with Loewe. Sometimes you need a classic.”

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