UK flower show seeks out Christchurch designer

Local costume designer Jenny Gillies’ flamboyant fabric creations can be seen in the Botanic Gardens Kiosk Gallery – and soon they’ll be on display in the United Kingdom too.

Jenny, whose Enchanted Garden exhibition has been delighting visitors to the Botanic Gardens since December, has been invited to display some of her stunning costumes at the internationally renowned Harrogate Spring Flower Show.

The Harrogate Spring Flower Show is the UK’s biggest and most prestigious independent flower show, attracting up to 60,000 visitors and 1000 exhibitors. It was recently rated Britain’s best gardening event by the country’s national consumer organisation, Which?

The Show is on from April 20 to 23 and this year has a Hort Couture theme.

Jenny Gillies is packing up 15 of her flamboyant creations and taking them to the UK.

It will be the first time Jenny’s colourful creations have been exhibited outside of Australasia.

“It’s an exciting opportunity not only to exhibit in Europe for the first time, but also to spread the word about our beautiful city of Christchurch and the rich culture visitors can expect to find when they visit us,” Jenny says.

“I shall be sowing the seeds of the city’s recovery highlighting some of the quite incredible things that are going on Christchurch at the moment and in the future.”

Harrogate Spring Flower Show Director Nick Smith says when he and his team first saw Jenny’s work on her website they were completely blown away by the fabulous detail and stunning spectacle of her flower gowns.

“They are a perfect fit for our spring Hort Couture theme. We are looking forward to hearing the story of Jenny’s work and how the beautiful flowers and gardens of the city of Christchurch helped to inspire her to create such stunning works of art.”