Fashion And Flowers Forge Show Alliance

Fashion And Flowers Forge Show Alliance
They both scream fun, flair and fabulous - so what better combination is there than flowers and fashion?

The perennially popular Ellerslie Flower Show has forged a three-year alliance with Fashion Industry NZ (FINZ), which will see the country's leading designers and florists working together at the 10th anniversary event.

Chief executive Cath Handley said many big-name New Zealand fashion designers such as Tanya Carlson, State of Grace and Paula Ryan were being teamed with leading floral designers and their resulting collaboration would be on show in this year's Floral Marquee.

"The theme for the marquee is 'Brilliance - Fashion, Flowers and Fantasy' and, given the calibre of the Kiwi fashion designers that we have attracted and the outstanding florists, I have no doubt it will be truly spectacular."

Ms Handley said exhibiting florists would create a floral interpretation of the fashion designer's creation. "The fashion expert will create an original design and the florist will interpret various elements as they see fit."

Professional florists and floral societies will take part, working with both top name designers and emerging artists. Participants include Tanya Carlson from Dunedin, Takaaki Sakaguchi from Christchurch, Annah Stretton from Morrinsville and, from Auckland, Doris de Pont, Caroline Church from St