Nespresso is a coffee-making system developed by Nestlé. The name is a blend of the company name and the word ‘espresso’. Special limited edition coffee varieties are offered every year. Nespresso recently launched three new grand crus (coffee varieties) at the editorial offices of Sanoma and Hearst. Each grand cru was presented in its own mood room, furnished with orchids in the same colour as the new capsule.

The smell of coffee is delicious, and triggers a particular attitude and mood. The use of orchids in the same colour as the new capsules reinforced the appropriate mood and attitude for each individual grand cru. The mood rooms were admired by more than 40 editorial staff from media such as Libelle, VT Wonen, Margriet, Flair, Viva, Marie Claire, Elle Wonen, Cosmopolitan, Nouveau and  Santé.

Orchid moment
We all do it: enjoying a cup of coffee at work, whilst catching up with a friend or just in the comfort of your own home. Have you enjoyed the various exotic orchids in your home in the same way? Bring conviviality into the house with an orchid. In the same way that coffee brings conviviality together with something relaxing, whilst also invigorating us. Which orchid will liven up your living room? You can choose from a very diverse range of exotic orchids. Every flower is a feast for the eye, and a beautiful enhancement for your living room. Perfect for enjoying your orchid moment.

With everything that teachers have to cope with nowadays, they deserve more appreciation than they get. We expect them to teach our children with enthusiasm and passion every day. Let’s support them by marking this for once. The ‘Top Marks for the Teacher’ campaign urges parents to encourage their child to take a bouquet or plant to school for their teacher as a sign of this appreciation.

This social objective fits with Unesco’s ‘Teachers’ Day’ initiative, which takes place on 7 October this year. Which is why the organisers of ‘Top Marks for the Teacher’ have opted for this date. “So give you child a bouquet or plant to bring to school for the teacher on 7 October. That will show teachers the appreciation they deserve!” The organisers feel that flowers and plants are the perfect gift for expressing appreciation. “Flowers and plants are generally placed in the best spot, and you need to look after these products well. Teachers deserve the same! So we would pose this challenge to all parents and children: teach your children about appreciation and how to express it. Make your teacher happy with a bouquet or a plant or just a nice drawing. It will brighten everyone’s day.”

Philip Treacy is the world’s most renowned hat designer. He has designed for royalty and can claim pop royalty, such as Madonna and Lady Gaga among his clientele. Now he is working together with orchid cultivators in the Netherlands at their request, to design a hat under the title ‘Art of Life,’ focused on the ‘Queen of Plants.’ Inspired by different orchids, he designed three strikingly beautiful hats.

Thursday September 5 2013,Treacy revealed his ‘Orchid Hat Collection’ in Amsterdam, demonstrating how elegant, fashionable and versatile the orchid is. This is part of the ‘Day of the Orchid,’ which is organized by the ‘Art of Life’ collaboration for the second year in a row. Because every ‘Queen’ deserves her own day, in turn, the ‘Philip Treacy Orchid’ was revealed on the 5^th as well!

Honoured 

A few months ago, Dutch orchid cultivators approached Philip Treacy to collaborate for the ‘Day of the Orchid.’ He did not hesitate: “When the ‘Art of Life’ approached me, I immediately answered positively. Orchids are my favorite flower and they are often a source of inspiration for my collections. For inspiration for the new hats, I invited the cultivators and their orchids into my studio. I was overwhelmed by their diversity of colours, shapes and patterns. I was initially intending to design one hat, but I found that it did not reflect the beautiful variations of the orchid. Because of this, I decided to design three hats, based on the three orchids that grabbed me the most. The white Phalaenopsis, through its simple and elegant blossoms in combination with its radiant white colour. The blue Vanda, because it is one of the most striking orchids and in my opinion, it is one of the most evolved. And the yellow Oncidium, which is known as the ‘dancing orchid,’ because some of its flowers resemble dancing dolls and some of its flowers look like a shower of gold. Each orchid has its own unique character and they truly inspired me.”

Philip Treacy Orchid

Dutch orchid growers are honored that a hat designer of Phlip Treacy’s caliber collaborated with them for the ‘Day of the Orchid’ and used his talent to express the diversity of the flower. Therefore, they are honouring him with their own special creation: a new orchid named the Philip Treacy Orchid. This new orchid is officially registered as part of the Cascade orchid family, also called the Waterfall Orchid, because it is curved and full of blossoms that resemble a waterfall. The Philip Treacy Orchid’s petals are white with small pink fuchsia stripes. The lip and the center of the orchid are a combination of white and soft yellow. This orchid is originally from Taiwan and it was discovered about two years ago. The Philip Treacy orchid is a real eye catcher, just like the plant’s namesake.

The Day of the Orchid
The ‘Queen of Plants’ deserves her own celebration, which is the basis for the annual ‘Day of the Orchid,’ that takes place on the first Thursday of September. On this day, which is being celebrated for the second year in a row, the orchid is placed in the spotlight and is honored for its diversity and beauty. In 2012, the orchid was celebrated with an Ode to strong women that matches the strong and elegant character of the flower. In 2013, the focus is on the orchid as more than a plant, rather it is the perfect accessory for the home. Just as fashion accessories make women extra radiant, orchids make the home extra special. This is the basis for collaboration with Philip Treacy.

The ‘Orchid Hat Collection’ consists of three orchid-inspired hats and is designed especially for the ‘Day of the Orchid.’ They are available for order via the Philip Treacy studio. The ‘Philip Treacy Orchid’ is currently limited, but it will become more readily available soon.

Philip Treacy about the Orchid

The matchless international show by Yuri Verbeek, Pim van den Akker and Aziz Bekkaoui in the Prinsenhof in Delft on 15 November was the manifestation of the ultimate total experience in which food, floral and fashion played the leading role (www.foodfloralfashion.com). This top class inspirational performance involved not just 13 extraordinary creations on the catwalk, but also 13 matching amuse-bouches. What the eyes saw was reinforced by simultaneously tasting. There was a special concept behind each creation and combination which had been worked out to the finest detail.

One of the creations was entirely inspired by the Orchid.

The theme of Asia is at the heart of this dress. The design of the dress, with matching collar, was inspired by the old Japanese samurai warriors. The bodice is made of crushed tree moss and extends like a suit of armour. The collar made from lotus leaves offers protection. The orchids which decorate the creations also represent Asia, where this giant amongst flowers probably originated. For the accompanying amuse-bouche, vanilla water in diamond form was selected, since vanilla comes from the pods of the vanilla orchid. By serving the diamond on Vanavo Leaves, an edible orchid, all the senses are optimally stimulated.

François Hannes will unveil the Orchid Twister, an etagere plant stand specially developed for the orchid, at lifestyle fair Excellent Wonen & Leven Beurs in Rotterdam. “The Orchid Twister suits all types of rooms, and ensures that orchids are given a special place indoors. Everyone has one or more orchids at home, but the Orchid Twister makes them stand out even more inside”, said Hannes. Hannes is showing a true Masterpiece, built around all five Orchid Twisters. His Masterpiece is a one-off creation that can only be admired at the Rotterdam lifestyle fair.

The Orchid Twister can be arranged differently depending on the room. This modern interior accessory comes in five colours, from stained oak to black piano lacquer and white gloss. The Orchid Twister can be personalised in a creative fashion. Its adjustable shape and the range of pots, accessories and orchids allow for a wide variety of combinations.

François Hannes’ design brings nature even more inside, creating a surprising picture. Hannes is renowned for his Chapter 1 style door by Bod’or and the interior design of Michelin-starred restaurant De Treeswijkhoeve. François Hannes about his Masterpiece: “It has completely different proportions than a single Orchid Twister, even though all the different Twisters are clearly visible in the design.”

Following the end of the Excellent Home & Living show the pot orchids were donated to the Rotterdam foodbank, complete with the beautiful pots. All the Netherlands’ pot orchid growers joined forces under the title ‘Art of Life’, and they wanted to put the spotlight on those who do not have the money to afford a nice plant and give them a treat.

“I’m already buzzing with excitement. I have been travelling all over the world doing shows for more than 25 years – I was 14 when I went along with my father for the first time  – but what’s going to happen on May 31^st is still very special.

We will be staging the world’s first ‘tweetjam’ with flowers. Together with three other international arrangers I’ll be allowed to ‘tweetjam’ with orchids in the theatre in Villa Flora at Floriade. ‘Jamming’ is free improvisation, just like in musicians’ jam sessions. And ‘tweet’ refers to the fact that we will be ‘tweeting’ on Twitter and so can give an immediate report on this spectacle.

I’m already really excited about it. At the average flower show you always have to work within certain boundaries and frameworks, here we can really cut loose. No limits, in other words, and we are going to really let our hair down. You can be sure that beautiful things are going to happen when you let four creatives loose on a stage. Particularly because orchids are also a fantastic product, both to work with and because of their superior lifespan.

The theatre at Floriade can seat 250 visitors. Because we will be making extensive use of the social media, our jam can be followed by flower lovers all over the world. That makes it extra exciting. And utterly contemporary. I personally am also making more and more use of Twitter and Facebook for my shows and for my flower shop.

During the ‘tweetjam’ I will definitely also be sharing my ‘secret tip’ with the audience. When an orchid has nearly finished flowering, and there is just one beautiful flower left on the plant, I cut it off. I place that stem in hot water, and then it’ll easily last another fortnight. Isn’t that great? I wonder whether my colleagues know this tip. Well I’ll find out on May 31^st …’

Tim van Leipsig

International flower designer

The Tweetjam on Thursday May 31^st starts at 1.00 p.m. and lasts until 3.00 p.m.
It takes place in the theatre in Villa Flora.
The unique demonstration with orchids can also be followed on the Internet via a live stream. Go to www.orchidsinfo.eu.

Flowers and plants are frequent elements in my designs. Every year I select striking flower prints, which I use as recurring themes in the fabric with which I work. My design preferences fit seamlessly with my choices in ‘real life’.

I have been in love with orchids all my life. Now I have used them in a collection for the 140 Steps shops. Before I decided to lend my name to this project, I gave the idea a lot of thought. My two fashion companies form the basis of my work, along with several exclusive ‘prêt a porter’ shops abroad. However, collaboration with such a large fashion chain is a great way to do something for a broader public.

People are familiar with my work through shows, from the red carpet and the bridal gowns that I design for celebrities and performing artists. My throng of fans is growing rapidly, with increasing numbers of people who find my dresses beautiful. I get a lot of e-mail. That kind of response is just great – a welcome compliment. It’s nice to be appreciated by people who wear them.

I have designed over 30 creations for Steps, including several dresses with huge prints of orchids. What was fun about this collaboration is that you do it together with an entire team. For me that was a bit of a luxury. I make the design, then the team goes ahead and looks for fabrics and samples, which I then get to see and fine-tune before the team takes over again.

Fashion is my life – from early in the morning to late at night. It’s hard work, but you don’t notice it because you really enjoy doing it. I have been in fashion for 30 years, but I’ve only been designing for the last 10. In that sense, my career is rather exceptional. I’m a late starter. Sort of like an orchid!’

Addy van den Krommenacker
Fashion Designer

www.addyvandenkrommenacker.nl

Isn’t it fascinating? I have SEEN orchids for over half a century, but I’ve never really LOOKED at them. But now I am. And I immediately fell in love with a flower!

My mother loved flowers and always had fresh bouquets in the house. For her an orchid was the apotheosis of luxury, the queen of flowers. It didn’t do much for me. At the time I particularly loved autumn, with its falling coloured leaves.

The love only came very recently, when I was forced to take a closer look. That was when a number of orchid growers asked me to design a shoe inspired by the orchid. In order to experience the flower in all its aspects – to see, to feel, to smell, to watch it move – my house was promptly filled with orchids.

At first I was particularly impressed by the number of flowers. That soon changed. I got the feeling that I was not looking at the flowers, but that the flowers were watching me. I became increasingly fascinated. I looked back and suddenly saw the beauty, voluptuousness, the fascinating colours, the many different varieties and the erotic shapes of orchids. “Yes, dear. You see erotic shapes everywhere,” said my wife.

My interest only increased further when I talked to a flower specialist I know, who told me all sorts of wonderful stories, such as the one about how aristocratic ladies used orchids in the ballroom to send lascivious signals to the gentlemen present. As a result, I was constantly viewing orchids from a different perspective. And so my ideas for the orchid shoe gradually took shape.

Initially I did not dare touch the flower. It was too beautiful, too fragile, too special. That changed when I got to know her better. I felt velvet-soft petals and I knew: this has to be made of suede. And so I designed the ‘Orchid Shoe’. When the design was finished, I understood my mother immediately. The orchid is sensual, erotic, almost organic and voluptuous and it thereby really is the queen of flowers. It just took me a while to discover it…”

Jan Jansen

Schoe designer
www.janjansen.com

“Sennah Studio has now been in existence for 10 years. We design and create interiors. Thinking up things that can be done differently and better – that’s what we do.”

Creating sketches, producing drawings, attending construction meetings through to the ‘finishing touch’ with decoration and planting; we manage the process from A to Z. We have developed our own style, our lines are particularly praised. Our designs are fairly serene. The trick is to design a basis which is correct, so that you have a particularly atmosphere even without the furniture.

Whether I am designing an interior for a home or a restaurant, I think it’s important to bring nature indoors. Nothing works better to break up stark lines than a plant or orchid. Orchids are very frivolous and they are always associated with a certain standard.

We recently had the opportunity to redesign the interior of the Michelin-starred restaurant Kaatje bij de Sluis. There is one fresh white rose on every table, and there are aubergine-coloured orchids on the windowsills. Those appear to be details, but they lend a very special mood to the interior. A chunk of the experience is missing if you remove those flowers.

I will rarely include flowers or plants in a design in advance, because styling is the last thing you do. Only then can you see what the space needs. Sometimes I have a selection of flowers, plants and decoration materials brought in. Then we start applying them until we get the sense of ‘yes’!”

François Hannes
Interior architect

www.francoishannes.nl

François Hannes is passionate and driven by beauty. His style of working and design and are being appreciated by an ever-growing group of people, both nationally and internationally.

His creativity, no-nonsense attitude, commitment and architectural insight make him a top class designer.

“Working as a freelance photographer for more than 20 years, I have travelled a lot, taken a lot of portraits and photographed an awful lot of flowers. Flowers are colourful, mysterious and festive. They make me happy and it’s nice to have something beautiful in front of your lens.

For me orchids are the crème de la crème. Their beauty is almost unsurpassable. And then there are all those different species: from tiny to massive, from wild-growing to cultivated. The orchid is exorbitantly extreme in all its manifestations. Whether I’m taking a close-up of a Vanda or a Phalaenopsis, each species gives me a different feeling. The diversity of colours and varieties engenders many emotions. Which is something that music, for example, also does.

When I photograph flowers I get right up close to them and seek out the structure. Partly so that I can picture what it’ll look like when you see it full page in a magazine in due course. Never underestimate a flower! I think that every orchid contains a ‘spaceman’, wearing a kind of helmet, with two eyes, sort of mad wings and a big beak which opens. I want to get to know that ‘spaceman’.

I have been able to take 25 shots for the international press dossier about orchids that Art of Life is offering magazine and newspaper editors in various countries. The stylist and I had more than 125 species at our disposal. Orchids are so diverse and you can find so much in them that photographing them never becomes a chore. After all this time orchids still continue to genuinely surprise me and I have increasing respect for them. They have a fragile strength which makes me happy and of which I will never tire.”

Jeannine Govaers
Photographer

www.jeanninegovaers.com

Jeannine Govaers has worked as a freelance photographer for various European clients including magazines and PR agencies since 1991. She has a knack for finding the most characteristic aspects and surprising angles, which always result in singular distinctive images.