Floral Display

What made you decide to combine flowers and fashion?
To me, flowers are an artistic medium. I combine my experience in floristry with my passion for theater and performance. When designing my creations, I play with texture and color and shape – much like a fashion designer does with fabrics. I want to convey emotions and touch people with my designs.

What’s your favorite flower?
Hard to say! Each flower has its own effect and significance. Roses stand for luxury and elegance, meadow flowers for lightness and playfulness. I choose the flowers according to the story I want to tell.

Which flowers work particularly well for floral couture?
It depends on the event. Roses and robust flowers last a long time, while delicate flowers such as poppies only survive for a short time. You have to know exactly how to combine the flowers.

When do flowers become art? 
Flowers themselves are works of art, but in my designs, I transform them into a means of expression. The model’s body becomes the canvas, the flowers the material. I adapt each design to the model’s individual characteristics.This way, every look is unique.

You once said that your love of flowers began in your childhood and was inspired by your grandmother’s garden. What does your own garden look like?
We live on a farm. I’m not a very good gardener but I like seeding wild flowers – to see what comes up. I’ve designed my garden to be a natural habitat, also for insects.

Who would you like to work with one day if you had the chance?
I’d love to work with Lady Gaga! She has an enormous stage presence and wears unconventional fashions with complete confidence. I enjoy working with people who dare to be extravagant.

This spring, you took part in New York Fashion Week with your designs. How did it go?
It was incredible! It was our second time there. The first time we had a red carpet event with models before an event. It was so crowded that we moved everything outside - and the models turned the street into a catwalk. The spectators and media loved it! This year we did a real runway show, including a saxophonist and live performance. At the end, we did a spontaneous photo shoot in the snow.

What do you love most about your job?
The people I work with! Fashion, art and performance come together - photographers, musicians, designers. Everyone brings their creativity to the table. It's an inspiring chaos that leads to something beautiful in the end.

You have already worked on many large projects - what was your most complex creation?
One of my most complicated creations was a red outfit with huge shoulder pads that had to last for several days for different events. All the flowers were given their own water source, small containers that were sewn on by hand. That was quite time-consuming.

What are your plans for the future?
I’m currently working on a presentation for the Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show. I would love to be able to show my art some day at the Met Gala in New York.