THANKS to three Kendal based businesses working together for the first time, brides have a new way to preserve their wedding bouquets.

The women behind the idea, ‘Petal * Wool * Print’, believe their product is an industry first. A selection of foliage and flowers are steamed onto Herdwick cloth leaving a dye that makes a unique botanical print. The one metre by 1.5 metre wool fabric, from the fleece of one the UK’s most iconic mountain sheep, can be used a wall-hanging, or a cover for a cushion, lampshade or footstool.

It’s taken eco printer and artist Deborah Dawn a year to research and refine because of the complex nature of working with Herdwick wool and natural dyes. Deborah’s had to experiment with how seasons, leaf type and the PH of the water impact on plants and how they react with the wool.

The women behind the collaboration are Kendal based floral designers, The Floralistas, fabric and upholsters Cable & Blake and eco printer and artist Deborah Dawn. It’s the first time they’ve worked together providing brides with a new way to remember their flowers from their special day.

“The idea to create a bouquet that could be preserved in some form was something I’d thought about for some time,” explains Ashley Holden.

“Partly because it seems such a shame to see precious blooms so lovingly tended and grown, through the seasons, enjoyed for just one day. Also, brides often ask for ways to preserve their bouquets.

“Our business, The Floralistas, is founded on strong sustainable principles. Composting is a fitting end for many of our floral designs. But a bridal bouquet carries such strong emotions and memories so the compost bin didn’t seem the right ending for them,” continues Ashley.

“Roll on one year and an off the cuff comment to Rachel of Cable and Blake, whilst delivering her fortnightly shop flowers, sparked the idea. We were hosting a workshop at our studio with Deb of Leaf Print and that’s how we came together to work on this.

“So here we are, three female founded Cumbrian businesses creating something unique for newlyweds. It’s sustainable, champions rites of passage for families and tells a story through an artisan hand-crafted product that can be passed on for generations to come,” says Ashley.

Both the product, and the technique used to transfer real plant colours and shapes onto the wool, is very different to standard options for preserving bridal bouquets. They include drying, by pressing, air or freeze-drying, as well as setting blooms in resin and silicone gel. Other keep-sake options are painting or photographing bouquets. Anyone interested in finding out more can email The Floralistas on hello@thefloralistas.co.uk. Prices start from £225, minus the flowers.

About:

https://www.thefloralistas.co.uk - With over 20 years combined experience in the floristry, food and retail design industry, Michelle Foulerton and Ashley Holden share a real passion and desire to honour mother nature. Working with seasonal British flowers, foraged, grown or market bought is at the heart of all their creations. In an industry that impacts greatly on the global environment, their focus is on seasonal, local, sustainable and plastic free. Cable and Blake. Kendal based Cable & Blake was set up in 2017 by Rachel Cabble and the late Alice Blakeney-Edwards, who continues to inspire the business today. Their love of Cumbria, including the world-famous mountains and lakes, is their raison d'être. It was Alice’s passion for the native Herdwick sheep, that led to a quest to find a way to use the fleece which was so often burnt as it had no value. So, they began sourcing fleece and yarn from local farmers that’s woven into high quality fabric. Today their products, though local crafter collaborations include, hat’s, bags, novelty toy’s, lampshades as well as upholstery fabrics, curtains and soft furnishings. Deborah Dawn. Based in the South Lakes (Kendal), Deborah Dawn is a textile artist working with sustainable methods to counteract the fast fashion industry. She collects leaves from her walks and dye garden. It is a contemporary twist on the ancient art of natural dyeing. Deborah only uses biodegradable, natural fabrics in an eco-friendly process to capture time and place in a one-off event. She works with local producers of the Lakeland’s iconic Herdwick wool to celebrate the infinite beauty of nature.