Home » Bouquet Basics » Silk History
Silk History
Feel like a little more Bridal Homework? There's no test at the end, we promise! Here's a brief history of silk flowers for you...
There has always been interest in recreating the beauty of perishable flowers in a more permanent form. Our grandmothers' generation delighted in creating zinnias and roses from crepe paper. Proving everything old is new again, these surprisingly life-like blooms were featured on a cover of the Martha Stewart Weddings magazine (see right).
The advent of new polymers and urethanes in the 1960’s led to the use of coloured thin foam sheets – certainly more fade-proof than the crepe paper, but perhaps not quite as appealing.
Then came the mass-produced plastic flowers. It took quite some time for interest in artificial flowers to rise again following this rather sad point in their history. However, recent advances in fabrics, finishes and manufacturing techniques have resulted in new products which far surpass any of their forebears. The vast majority of the world’s silk flowers is made in Asia, while a small tradition of natural silk handmade blooms remains in New York and Paris, servicing the couturier industry.
‘Silk’ has now become a generic term; most flowers are now made from cotton/polyester blend fabrics. These hold the colour dyes and retain the applied textures well. However, the quality ranges greatly, from low-end flowers sold in discount and craft stores all the way through to the carefully-selected lines chosen by Loveflowers.
In the quality of flowers which Loveflowers specialises, painstaking attention to detail is taken to ensure botanically-correct designs. The design process now involves taking real flowers apart to closely examine their structure and observe the details of the stamens, leaves and calyx. Special fabric finishes are often applied to give lifelike textures. For example, ironing the fabric used to make tulips to replicate their characteristic shine, or carefully crinkling the outer petals of roses with heat to mimic the effects of nature.
The fabric choice may also be directed by the actual texture of the flowers represented. Peachskin, a sueded fabric is suitable for flowers such as magnolia with its velvety petals. Faux berries are often created from plastic foam painted with enamels for realistic depth of colour and shine (see right). Latex is being used to craft realistic calla, tiger and oriental lillies – much more pliable and lifelike than the original plastic flowers. A foam-like polyurethane substance is being used to make tropical flowers – it’s perfect for their chunky, modern look. A recent trend is roses made in part from organza, which gives the petals the translucent look of very full blown blooms. A look, incidentally, which would be impossible to use in perishable flowers, as they would be far too delicate to work with at this late stage in their life span.
Improvements in moulding techniques have been just as important to the silk flower renaissance. Many manufacturers use actual petals and leaves to create their prototypes, some create shape and texture from finely-detailed cut and creased tin foil. Then a plaster cast is taken to create the brass production moulds. These form and texturise the realistic petals and leaves. Deliberate ‘faults’ are designed into the flower to create a natural realism. Missing petals and pale brown smudges on outer petals are a clever design device to trick observers that the flowers originated from the field and not the factory.
Complex screen printing techniques are used to add colour, with quality flowers featuring subtle colour variations to enhance their natural appearance. Some flowers are coloured with new ink injection methods which lend a depth of hue previously unattainable. Lastly, fresh touch is a term used for a new technique where one or more coatings are applied to petals and leaves, giving a remarkably realistic feel and appearance.
"It is always exciting for us to see the constant improvement in realistic effects in new items at local and international trade fairs, suppliers and manufacturers. We are currently working on a new website system that will enable us to bring you a wider range of flowers and foliage, updated much more quickly and more often, so our brides can better share in our discoveries!"
Tell a friend about Loveflowers!
