Textile floral art

A fascinating little story about the art of making artificial flowers

Creating flowers that never fade is an art as delicate as it is poetic. Floral designers have mastered this unique know-how, giving life to eternal petals, whether they are inspired by nature or purely imaginary.

As Hélène Farnault says so well:
"The floral adornment recreates known or imagined plant species. They blossom in skillful hands and endure, defying time and usage."

Flowers have always brightened our lives. But to enjoy them in all seasons, humans have ingeniously imitated nature.

Did you know that in China, as early as 950, court women wore silk and mica flowers in their hair?

In ancient Egypt, artisans transformed papyrus into delicate flowers.

In France, textile floral art experienced a real boom in the 16th century. In the 18th century, even the elegant ladies of the Court enjoyed making their own flowers, leaves and fruits.

The golden age and challenges of this art

At the beginning of the 20th century, this craft enchanted more than 40,000 artisans in France . In their workshops, women and children hand-crafted perfect petals for prestigious fashion houses. But with the arrival of plastic and global competition, this precious craft almost disappeared. Today, only about twenty houses and designers continue to keep this unique know-how alive.

An ode to nature

Attention to detail, patience, creativity... Being a floral adorner is much more than a job: it is a timeless art , an ode to nature and a true treasure of French heritage.

Finally, combining this art with upcycling to enhance a fabric is for me a respect for nature.

Fun fact: The expression “being on tenterhooks” comes from the frames used to stretch fabrics – the famous “tenterhooks” – to ensure perfect flowers, without a single crease.