'A little exoticism should not be missing'

In September, Sören Van Laer won the inaugural Belgian Championship, entitling him to be called First Florist of Belgium. ‘It is a great honor to be the first to bear the title of First Florist of Belgium. This title is a true recognition of our profession as a florist. To be a good florist, you must not only master the floral techniques, you must also be creative, well-organized, and possess business acumen.
Together with my partner Aymeric Chaouche and supported by the team, we have worked hard to achieve this title. I am proud of my team. Together, we will continue to promote Belgium on the map in terms of floral art.’

In the run-up to Christmas, Atelier Sören Van Laer
steadfastly organizes a Christmas Open Door. 'Celebrating and festive decorating is in our DNA. We love purely natural materials such as pine branches, pine cones, pine needles, and berries. Classic shapes such as wreaths and stars belong to the Christmas tradition, but I also like to experiment with other shapes. Glitter and lights add a festive character to these creations. A little exoticism should not be missing either. Special
orchids or other exotic flowers and materials provide this.’

'Always keep your eyes open'

Floral designer Hanneke Frankema likes to make her own bases and, if possible, use them several times. ‘Christmas comes back every year, certain materials give – by using them just a little differently – a nice twist to the
Christmas arrangements. For this Christmas special of DPK, I have created many commercial ideas.’

'My motto is: Always keep your eyes open. That's how I found some metal trays with a mirror in a shop. By removing the mirror, decorative gold-colored rings remained. With a frame of pokes underneath, it created an ideal base for bouquets. But this base can also be beautifully placed on a dish with loose flowers incorporated in between.'

‘Every year you come across bags full of pine cones. They are often used as cheap fillers in Christmas pieces, but I have now incorporated them into a wreath shape. That gives a robust appearance that combines beautifully with other natural materials. It is useful to think about surfaces that you can make well in advance and to which only a few fresh materials need to be added before they enter the store.’

'Also, beautiful details, which are relatively cheap and quick to create, can make the difference. Think of incorporating matching Christmas baubles or handmade stars of aluminum wire. I also really like simple solutions such as Kalanchoe leaves that complete the whole thing. And yes, so always keep your eyes open.'

Luxury in harmony with nature

In the theme of 'Luxury in harmony with nature', connectedness with nature plays a leading role. The arrangers have often opted for traditional techniques and natural materials. The look is one of grandeur and exclusivity; festive yet understated, serene yet cozy and warm.

Winter Challenge

To move from the colorful fall to winter is a different mindset for many people. Not that the colors completely disappear from the landscape, but it's all a bit more subtle and monochromatic. For florists, especially those who want to work more sustainably, that can be a challenge. Getting into the shell of nature, the bare branches with larch or pine cones, the evergreen greenery, mosses and dried tendrils - it takes some adjusting.

'Funeral arrangements can also be very colorful'

Florist Mélodie Mahin from flower shop La Mélodie des Fleurs in Libin, Belgium, was educated at the Institut Horticole de Gembloux. Together with ten young florists, she participated in the Fleur Talent! training project and regularly takes part in competitions in Alden Biesen and Beloeil. She also decorates weddings and parties and is renowned for her workshops and children's parties.

In addition to the daily colorful arrangements for her customers in the flower shop, farewell floral work also occupies an important place in Mélodie's work. ‘A personal farewell is the birth of a beautiful memory. That's why I would like to help to provide the most beautiful farewell possible.’

‘That can be an arrangement in very neutral colors, white and green, and with classic funeral flowers such as chrysanthemums. But funeral work can and may also be very colorful. There are also various possibilities in terms of shape. A flower cushion remains a classic, but I also like to opt for other shapes or for a combination of different small creations.’

'There is so much more than traditional decorations'

For floral designer Chantal Post, funeral arrangements represent a highly personal tribute to the deceased. 'The choice of flowers is often related to the character of that person. A conversation with the family ensures that you get to know the specific characteristics of the deceased, the sensitivities, the favorite flowers.'

'It is a challenge to make use of more or less known symbolism. As a florist, you can add more depth to your funeral work. For example, a cylinder is open at both ends, which is why this shape symbolizes the communication between two worlds: the physical world and the spiritual world.'

‘In this contribution, I mainly wanted to show different techniques and different forms of coffin decorations. There is so much more possible than traditional decorations. For example, I made a structure with paper coffee filters that gives the impression of a soft pillow. That creates a lot of possibilities. Moreover, the paper structure already has a voluminous effect in itself, so relatively few flowers are needed to create a large arrangement.’