Flower Wonderland! It's Like A Candy Store!
January 22, 2023 2:55 PM Subscribe
An intergenerational family business ends up being the last of its kind, but still keeps chugging along somehow. How The Last Artificial Flower Factory In NYC Handcrafts Designs For Celebrities [13m, Insider Business "Still Standing" series]
Tenterhooks! In the 21st century! Some things will never be replaced,
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:36 PM on January 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 4:36 PM on January 22, 2023 [1 favorite]
Youtuber Bernadette Banner took a tour of the same place about a year ago.
posted by sardonyx at 5:13 PM on January 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by sardonyx at 5:13 PM on January 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
A while back I learnt to make flower petals from artificial fabrics using a candle flame. (The fabrics have to be artificial so that the edges melt slightly as you pass them close to the flame, and then shrink slightly as they cool, giving the petal a concave shape.) One occasion that stands out in my memory: I was able to help supply a drag artist with a last-minute drift of rose petals made in the afternoon before their show.
But this is like, a million miles beyond that. The die cutting and hot moulding are so satisfying to watch! Lovely post, thank you for making it.
(And thank you to sardonyx for the Banner link as well-- I liked the detailed explanation of the machines in the "Process" tab.)
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:46 PM on January 22, 2023 [4 favorites]
But this is like, a million miles beyond that. The die cutting and hot moulding are so satisfying to watch! Lovely post, thank you for making it.
(And thank you to sardonyx for the Banner link as well-- I liked the detailed explanation of the machines in the "Process" tab.)
posted by Pallas Athena at 7:46 PM on January 22, 2023 [4 favorites]
That was wonderful- thanks for posting it. I wish they could have shown all the finished pieces from the wedding dress. The few hints they did show (roses, maybe camellias, maybe hydrangeas) were so lovely.
I hope they can hang on into the next century.
posted by Mchelly at 8:17 PM on January 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
I hope they can hang on into the next century.
posted by Mchelly at 8:17 PM on January 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Yeah, modern wedding dresses can be such a big purchase and are rarely passed down in families anymore, so I love hearing about times when the fabric was repurposed for something interesting.
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:44 PM on January 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
posted by The Underpants Monster at 8:44 PM on January 22, 2023 [2 favorites]
Lovely!
posted by jacquilynne at 9:19 PM on January 22, 2023
posted by jacquilynne at 9:19 PM on January 22, 2023
They sell on Amazon, and make an absolutely top-notch boutonniere.
posted by jcrcarter at 7:54 AM on January 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by jcrcarter at 7:54 AM on January 23, 2023 [1 favorite]
Also Etsy!
For people in NYC, it looks like they participated in Open House New York last fall, and I imagine they might be doing in-person sales again.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 6:10 PM on January 23, 2023
For people in NYC, it looks like they participated in Open House New York last fall, and I imagine they might be doing in-person sales again.
posted by evidenceofabsence at 6:10 PM on January 23, 2023
The red velvet rose on Amazon is really beautiful.
posted by hippybear at 1:26 PM on January 24, 2023
posted by hippybear at 1:26 PM on January 24, 2023
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posted by pangolin party at 3:28 PM on January 22, 2023 [1 favorite]