Design in bloom at Manolo Blahnik
For the first time a collection of some of the world’s leading fashion designers, including shoe designer Manolo Blahnik, are creating limited edition designs to celebrate the 2008 RHS Chelsea Flower Show. The show runs from 20-24 May and tickets are now on sale, visit rhs.org.uk/flowershows.
Manolo Blahnik, Liberty of London Creative Director Tamara Salman and A-list handbag designer, Susannah Hunter, have all created designs for the world’s finest flower show and renowned ‘catwalk of the gardening world’. The fashion and flowers theme continues within the show where, for the first time, LK Bennett and Jo Malone are both creating gardens.
Manolo Blahnik’s Chelsea shoes are a limited edition of one of the most successful styles made for Spring/Summer called BOGAZICI. Only ten will be made in a special Rose print version (the original is in a Marimekko print) for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show shoe. The shoes will go on sale on the first day of the RHS Chelsea Flower show.
The leading fashion designer also created a beautiful illustration of a daylily (Hemerocallis ‘Grace & Favour’), which is the official RHS creative, used to represent the 2008 RHS Chelsea Flower Show.
Sumptuous peonies, which are always fashionable at Chelsea, inspired the 2008 RHS Chelsea Flower Show “Bloomsbury Bag”. The handbag, which features Hunter’s signature hand-stitched appliqué flowers, has pink peonies blooming on a background of champagne leather. These special limited-edition bags, with an exclusive Chelsea label, are being hand-made in Hunter’s central London atelier behind the acclaimed boutique on Rugby Street, WC1.
Drawing on both Liberty’s heritage and the archives of the RHS, Tamara Salman’s Chelsea scarf is a hand painted design of a beautiful enchanted garden. A scene of exotic birds perched on branches is viewed through a decadent mix of rich leafy florals with blossoming roses and hydrangeas. Beautifully coloured, the design captures the look and feel of a water-colour painting.
A design celebrating the femininity of the 50’s and their Spring/Summer 08 women’s wear collection of shoes, clothing and accessories will be brought to the show by LK Bennett. The LK Bennett Garden is designed by TV presenter and gardener, Rachel de Thame and draws on the collections elegant painterly, graphic and paisley floral prints and bold use of colour. It is also inspired by Cecil Beaton’s costume and hat designs for the Ascot scene in ‘My Fair Lady’.
LK Bennett has also been inspired by the world famous show to create fashion designs, including a limited edition shoe, with covered platform heels, an elegant round toe and pretty side bow. Covered in soft linen fabric, they feature the LK Bennett rose print from the Spring/Summer 2008 clothing collection.
Within the Great Pavilion, where there are over one hundred spectacular floral displays, the World of Jo Malone Garden will reflect the essence of the luxurious lifestyle brand and English elegance. The garden, which is inspired by the unique and unexpected ingredients found within the Jo Malone fragrance collections, is filled with rich blossoms, fresh herbs and wild fruits to infuse the air with fragrance and create a sensorial oasis to relax and reflect in.
The flower show fashion finale will take centre stage in the Floral Design Marquee, where renowned florists will create floral displays to celebrate and reflect iconic fashion houses.
