Presenting

36 B January | 2024 36 I n homage to that elusive sense of genius that surfaces long after the sun has set, the "Ante Meridian" floral trend is born from the enchantment that unfolds in the studio after midnight. It draws its energy from botanicals in the Southern Hemisphere, who burst to life while those in the northern half of the world sleeps in winter's embrace. Our trend forecasters have predicted a pull toward avant-garde Australian-style blooms in 2024. Picture the "Ante Meridian" style as a polychromatic palette featuring rich gem tones, a captivating sea of flashing neon lights pulling you in. Designers curating this trend seamlessly weave luxurious orchids, larger- than-life garden and reflexed roses, and towering spires of foxtail lilies into their arrangements and installations, throwing out dominant rules of scale followed by designers in North America. It's not just about the colors; achieving this look demands a harmonious dance paying equal attention to the presence of draping, swirling, reaching, fluttering and dispersed shapes within compositions, leading to a larger overall theme. For retail florists daring to disrupt confines, this style invites experimentation with unconventional color combinations, asymmetrical designs and vibrant enhancements in bouquets—a vivid manifestation of contemporary floral artistry. Wedding florists, step onto the boundary-pushing stage with gravity-defying installations, distinctive and dramatic bouquets, and wild wearables. e "Ante Meridian" style is a vessel for creativity, infusing nuptials with extraordinary touches. Reflexed and curled roses, with ample stem length preserved, take center stage, celebrating the magic that unfolds when artistic expression knows no limits, especially in the predawn mystique. Beyond the brilliant qualities this trend can infuse into retail and wedding floral design, the true genius of "Ante Meridian" can be appreciated best within the creatively unrestrained world of corporate event and editorial floristry ; no longer will predictable and commonplace blooms cut it for brands aiming to make a splash. e "Ante Meridian" trend becomes the ideal vessel for designing floral masterpieces at branded pop-ups, trendy bar spaces and captivating floral art displays for print media. Get ready to witness a floral revolution in which creativity takes the lead and rules are mere suggestions. "Ante Meridian" is set to redefine the floral fashion landscape in the most extraordinary way. bTrend 5 ANTE MERIDIAN AFTF 24 Floral Design: Lee Juang Ming (Andy Lee), PM Flowers, Taipei, Taiwan

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