A silk flower bouquet is a thing of beauty. Its delicate petals and greenery provide its presenter with the satisfaction that these flowers will last forever. Not only does the flora used remarkably mimic the real articles, these bloom are a constant reminder of the giver and the event they represent. Yet have you ever wondered where silk flowers come from?
What are Silk Flowers?
We all are familiar with the natural material silk and its origins. Yet, to apply this to the world of flower making is to be mistaken. In the world of artificial flowers, the term “silk” refers to any synthetic flower constructed of conditioned fabric. In other words, a silk flower bouquet may consist of flowers and greenery created from polyester, cotton-polyester blends and other combinations of material.
Early Silk Flowers
No one knows who made the first artificial flowers. The first recorded examples of silk flower production dates from the 18th century. As is to be expected, the idea arose from a desire to preserve forever the fragile beauty of real flowers. In Paris, France, a tradition arose of creating flowers to mimic the real thing. These silk flower were produced using either silk or crepe paper. The masters could seemingly effortlessly fabricate striking silk blooms by carefully and skillfully folding silk into proper shapes. The practice continued until the 20th century.
The Modern Silk Flower Bouquet
The 20th century was a time in which technology exploded across the globe. The Wars to end all Wars saw the invention of a wide variety of synthetic materials. The Japanese made a small advance into the flower production business with their use of celluloid. Yet, in spite of the exquisite flowers created through Japanese elegance and skill, the material proved unsatisfactory and even dangerous. Celluloid was highly flammable. Soon it was banned and silk flower makers sought another viable alternative.
Foam crept into the market, quickly replacing celluloid and eventually crepe paper. While actual silk flowers remained available on the market, they were soon overshadowed by the affordable foam flowers. However, these foam creations were not the ideal replacement for silk blooms. More recently, blends of fabric have begun to establish a place in the making of silk flowers.
Replacing the less lifelike foam flowers are the strikingly realistic blooms crafted from cotton and polyester blends. These soft but resistant creations are making their mark in the artificial flower market. They are less expensive than their silk counterpart is and are durable. They retain dyes and are therefore able to mimic the color desired. While a silk flower bouquet made from real silk remains the highest quality possible, these newer technological blooms are a viable and amazingly realistic alternative to the originals.
