After a two-year postponement, the time has almost come for the 2022 edition of the European Floristry Championship! Hanneke Frankema will be travelling to Poland to compete for the championship (26 to 28 August) on behalf of the Netherlands, and we were permitted to interview her. We are looking forward to the European Championships just as much as she is!
The first thing that needs to be done in preparation for the EC is to find sponsors. After that, there many other arrangement to make before Hanneke can leave, from procuring flowers to transport and, of course, the design of special, custom-made furniture and other objects to use as a base for the works of floral art she will be creating. This edition will differ slightly from previous ones, if only because the competition has been postponed twice. As a result, the preparation time is much longer, and a number of modifications were made to the criteria for the works to be entered in the competition to guarantee compliance with COVID measures.
Where do you get your inspiration?
Hanneke gets her inspiration from the assignments and the theme. This year鈥檚 theme is 鈥榤usic and dance鈥�, which fits Hanneke like a glove. The style that inspires her above all others is Jugendstil, with its rounded and swirling shapes. Hanneke likes to work with organic shapes, curved lines and spiralling arrangements. As a result, her work tends to look different from various angles and has a swaying, dance-like quality about it.
Hanneke is nowhere without a long to-do list, on which she constantly jots down products that she must not forget to take to Poland. Good preparation is of inestimable value, particularly when you鈥檙e travelling to a foreign country! Considering that you have no idea what you can buy or use there, it is very important to bring the products and materials you need with you from home.
If you could choose which flowers you could take with you when you travel, what would they be?
Hanneke adores flowers that do not have a straight stem. Her favourites are actually the 鈥榤isfits鈥�: flowers and plants such as vines, passiflora and ceropegia. These products are pliant and therefore easy to bend into all sorts of shapes. 鈥楾his is particularly interesting if the stems are not straight鈥�, says Hanneke.
If you could travel back in time, which flower would you have liked to be the first to discover, and why?
Hanneke definitely has a thing for orchids, but bromeliads are also high on her list. She harbours a tremendous appreciation for plants and flowers with a complex cultivation process that requires a lot of time and attention.
Why is this EC so important?
鈥業 get a tremendous kick out of competing.鈥� It is extremely important for those of us in the floristry and floriculture industry to stay up to date on new trends and developments. This European Championship has triggered everyone to discover and apply new products and methods. The eagerness to learn has been spreading through society like a bug. Hopefully, this will also inspire people to take up the profession of florist. It is a wonderful profession, after all, in which numerous facets come together, such as trends and innovation.
What kind of flowers will you be using?
Hanneke is currently practising and testing to see how well the flowers she has chosen match the custom-made furniture. Considering that a lot can be prepared at home, she can also do a lot of testing in order to get the best results. Nothing has been laid down yet, but we will be happy to take you on a journey soon to find out which flowers and plants Hanneke will be using in her battle to win the competition!
More information about the EC: