Flower Couture

Men's floral garment for SA Fashion week By Franz grabe Flowers
Flower dress and floral garment for SA Fashion week By Franz grabe Flowers

The Beginning of Flower Garments

Flower garments and outfits are as old as the single fig leave worn by Adam and Eve.  Grass skirts were worn by many island inhabitants and today it forms part of their traditional costume. Hawaii has the Hula costume made from grass and in Fiji the Liku made from Hibiscus or root fibres are worn by both men and woman. Many African cultures use skirts, outfits and accessories made from grass and flora for ritual purposes. As for us, we used it for the creation of extreme beauty and luxury.

As flower decorators, we believe in challenging our creative abilities to the extreme. We have always been interested and tempted by the utmost and the impossible. Green couture came up in the form of a fantasy many times during discussions.

The images of flower dresses and accessories inspired our minds.

 

The original French meaning for couture is ‘sewing’, however in various languages it indicates quality, exclusivity, brilliance, top-of- range, designer-like attributes… the ‘Moët & Chandon Collection’ is all of that, and more
Franz Grabe
Flower Couture

Judith Sephuma

Judith Sephuma cd Cover shoot. flower dress, Petal dress by Franz Grabe Flowers. Merwelene van der Merwe Photography
Judith Sephuma cd Cover shoot. flower dress, Petal dress by Franz Grabe Flowers. Merwelene van der Merwe Photography
Judith Sephuma cd Cover shoot. flower dress, Petal dress by Franz Grabe Flowers. Merwelene van der Merwe Photography
Judith Sephuma cd Cover shoot. flower dress, Petal dress by Franz Grabe Flowers. Merwelene van der Merwe Photography
Judith Sephuma cd Cover shoot. flower dress, Petal dress by Franz Grabe Flowers. Merwelene van der Merwe Photography
Judith Sephuma cd Cover shoot. Head piece by Franz Grabe Flowers. Merwelene van der Merwe Photography

Romance

The romance of flowers seduces female sentiments on all levels. It speaks to the greatest fantasies of women and evoke extreme desires, impossible luxury and beauty. Women own the divine right to vanity and flower dresses fit perfectly into this realm of femininity and desire.
Entering the world of fantasy we come across the flower garments of fairies and elves. From childhood little girls are seduced by the impossible dream of floral garments and flower accessories. Children make flower crowns and daisy chains to play and dream with, and so we took the dream to reality, we made the impossible possible.

We dare to drain the imagination into desire and ultimate luxury. We speak directly to the secret fantasies and timeless femininity.
That is why it is extremely difficult to produce green garments and flower couture for their counterparts commonly known as: MEN

Hyde Park Corner Activation Floral Garment Flower Dress by Franz Grabe Flowers

The Moët & Chandon Collection

We were invited by fashion designer Marianne Fassler to dress mannequins in dried botanicals and flowers, and the public’s reaction was phenomenal. At the same time, we were getting involved with Lucilla Booyzen from SA Fashion Week, supplying her with floral décor and flower installations for her events. We did an exhibition of mannequins for her and she mentioned a runway show – her suggestion confronted us with the extreme temptation, our wildest fantasies, and the destroyer of all creativity: FEAR.

We spoke to Alison Gregg Public Relations and offered a live show before considering the reality of the project.

We entered this domain without a clue on how to do it or how to begin with the very basics of any flower garment or floral dress. When Alison introduced us to our sponsor Moët & Chandon we pretended that we have done this before and the race to success was on!

The Moët & Chandon collection went down the runway with spectacular success and international acclaim!

Gallery - SA Fashion Week 2006

Wits Hospice Charity Event

critic’s reviews

What did the critics say?

"The ‘Moët & Chandon Collection’ is an international first in fashion and it is both exciting and appropriate that Style plays a key role.”
Naomi Larkin
Style editor
"I am ecstatic about the collection. It is the first at the Fashion Week and in the world. It will be showing abroad representing a first the world of fashion out of South Africa”
Dion Chang
SAFW Director
"Franz Gräbe stole the show on Thursday night with his breathtaking Moët & Chandon floral couture collection”
Lesley Mofokeng
Sunday Times Online