very year, we collaborate with a leading designer to present the Floral Trends for the year ahead. This year, we’ve partnered with European Champion Hanneke Frankema, one of Marginpar’s first ambassadors. With her trend report, she follows in the footsteps of renowned names such as Nicu Bocancea, Gregor Lersch, Joseph Massie, and Klaus Wagener, each offering their own vision of what the future holds.
What do trends mean to Hanneke?
Hanneke’s answer is short and sweet: “I don’t follow trends. I set them.” With her signature style, she inspires florists across the globe. Her unmistakable hallmark is evident in this trend report, including her passion for wire techniques, which earned her the nickname “Iron Lady.”
The stunning photography was provided by her husband, Nico Alsemgeest. We sat down with the creative duo in their studio in Friesland (The Netherlands) to discuss this year’s trends.
Sustainable design
The common thread in Hanneke’s work is “reusable sustainable design.” Sustainability is no longer just a trend; it’s a way of life, and this ethos shines through in each of the ten designs she has created for this report. Every piece incorporates reusable elements. Let’s take a closer look at her designs, her choices, and her techniques.
Dried materials as a foundation
Many of Hanneke’s designs start with flowers that dry well, offering plenty of advantages: you can prepare designs in advance and refresh them with new blooms as needed.
Technique tip: Allow flowers to dry completely before incorporating them into your design to prevent shrinking or shifting.
Connection in purple
The inspiration for this design came from a vase shaped like a Ginkgo Biloba leaf. Hanneke combined dried Limonium with fresh Clematis. Wet floral foam provides the structure inside the vase. Hanneke explains: “Underneath the Limonium, I used thick 5mm aluminium wire. It’s strong and easy to mould into the organic shape you see here. The Limonium is trimmed and tied into small bundles using binding wire. You continue wrapping until you achieve the desired shape and thickness.”
This design took Hanneke many hours to complete, but she notes: “This is the kind of piece you can create during quieter periods in the shop—we used to do this back in the day. Plus, it’s also an excellent task for trainees, as they’ll learn so much from it.”
Where can this design be used? “As a florist, you could sell it to businesses as a reception piece, moving it to different locations over time. It’s the kind of design that leaves people speechless. After a few months, it could return to the first business with fresh flowers added, keeping it new and exciting. It does take time to make initially, but if you can use it 15 times, you’ll earn from it over and over.”
During her time as a shop owner, Hanneke often created reception pieces: “For a large hotel chain, we made five big arrangements every week. For projects like that, reusable bases are extremely practical. I want customers to experience that ‘wow’ factor every single time, and with this type of design, you can definitely deliver that.”
Magical Gypsophila – refined and timeless
The soft white clusters of Gypsophila, often called baby’s breath, are traditionally used in romantic bouquets and floral clouds. Hanneke, however, takes a different approach. Using the new ‘Million Daisy™’ variety, she creates bold forms that emphasise repetition.
The base of the design is an iron pin, extended with aluminium wire. Around this, Hanneke wraps thin 2mm aluminium wire to form the teardrop shape. She explains: “It starts as a kind of iron tree. Then, you clamp clusters of Gypsophila onto it without water and secure them with binding wire. Start with plenty at the bottom and taper towards the top. In some areas, you’ll need to layer the Gypsophila until you achieve the desired form.” Fresh Clematis is placed in small tubes hidden within the structure. Clematis cannot be used dry as it requires water.
Hanneke: “Gypsophila dries beautifully and can be reused. You only need to replace the fresh flowers. This new variety is stunning—it looks like tiny bells, almost reminiscent of Kalanchoe blossoms. It’s also incredibly sturdy.”
Hanneke suggests this piece would look stunning on a long table, flowing naturally between seated guests at a wedding or event, or at either end of a cocktail bar. “Beautiful,” she remarks.
Flowers: Gypsophila Million Daisy™, Clematis Amazing® Vienna
Authentic designs
Hanneke firmly believes in creating unique, bespoke pieces that cannot be found in just any flower shop. Adding authenticity to designs creates an extra experience for clients.
Wall art – golden wall installation
Hanneke designed a decorative wall piece using Craspedia, gold leaf, and a handmade wooden frame. Technically intricate and highly decorative, this installation perfectly embodies her signature style.
Hanneke: “Craspedia is one of my absolute favourites. It’s one of those flowers that dries beautifully, allowing you to work ahead and reuse it effectively.” She gestures towards earlier designs: “These bridal bouquets with Craspedia, from a shoot last year, are still here. I could just pop them straight into my suitcase.”
Hanneke highlights the technical skills a florist must have: “You really need to be able to work with tools like a drill and a saw, in my opinion. For this frame, I spray-painted it gold, applied the gold leaf, and then sealed it with lacquer. If you skip that last step, the gold leaf will rub off when you handle it. Then, I drilled numerous short pieces of aluminium wire into the frame, wrapping them with binding wire, which creates a beautiful layered effect. It’s decorative but also highly technical.” The ribbed section of wire ensures that the Craspedia heads stay firmly in place. Additionally, she glued each head with cold adhesive as an extra precaution: “Otherwise, they might eventually fall off.”
Every detail, from the placement of the spheres to the finishing touches, contributes to a unique piece of art. Hanneke: “You need to have the technique down to perfection with a piece like this because you’re selling it as art, and it will hang in someone’s home for years. Every mistake is visible. Even the placement of each Craspedia ball is crucial. You shouldn’t attach them while they’re fresh, as they shrink when they dry. Moreover, it’s important to have enough spheres to choose from in terms of size; the design needs to transition smoothly from large to small. Any inconsistency in this process will be immediately noticeable.”
Flower: Craspedia Paintball™ Pop
Obelisk – elegance in green
We continue with the golden theme, using a gold vase as the starting point for this design. For the base, Hanneke used dry floral foam (Oasis-Sec), which she sculpted by hand into the perfect shape.
“I do this entirely by feel,” Hanneke explains. “You start by cutting and shaping, and you refine it until it feels just right. The more knowledge you have about materials, the smoother this process becomes.” This focus on material, technique, and floral knowledge is a recurring theme throughout this interview.
“With this technique, you can create something completely unique that you won’t find anywhere else,” she continues. “This isn’t a shape you buy from a wholesaler. It’s pure craftsmanship.” At the core of the design, she incorporated a sturdy structure of iron or wooden rods to ensure the construction doesn’t break when handled. She deliberately avoided using glue here: “Glue interferes with the sculpting process and will show up later in the design.”
Once the foam was sculpted, Hanneke painted it green to ensure that any gaps between the Chasmanthium leaves would blend seamlessly. The leaves were individually glued into place, starting at the bottom and working upwards with cold adhesive. The tip of the design features a delicate detail made of gold wire, echoing the golden hue of the vase.
An additional element is the Gloriosa stem, recreated with gold wire. Hanneke explains: “This is not only decorative but also gives me complete control over the placement of the flowers.” Precision is crucial to her: “At the top, I want the buds, in the middle, the semi-opened flowers, and at the bottom, the fully opened blooms. This ensures the design has exactly the look I’m aiming for.”
This piece is ideal as a show-stopping eyecatcher for a one-day event, as the Gloriosa is used without water. Hanneke adds: “If you want to make the design last longer, you can incorporate water tubes into the construction.” She also sees it as a perfect statement piece for a shop window: “Pair it with smaller versions – they’re easy to sell alongside the main piece.”
The peacock – mysterious and deep blue
This piece illustrates how inspiration can stem from the simplest of sources—in this case, the vase itself. Its oil-slick colours are reflected in the flowers chosen. Hanneke: “I wanted to create something dark and rich, so I selected dark blue Eryngium and a new Clematis variety: Sofia.”
A striking accent is added with shimmering peacock feathers, providing a beautiful contrast to the matte texture of the Eryngium. The feathers are incorporated into round wire frames: “It’s a slightly different approach. The colours of the peacock feathers work wonderfully with these flowers.
Apart from the Clematis, which is placed in tubes hidden among the Eryngium and dry foam, everything here is long-lasting. The Eryngium dries beautifully; it may lose some colour, but its matte finish already fits the overall look perfectly.”
Hanneke shares a practical tip: “Keep in mind that the stems will shrink as they dry, so insert them compactly into the dry Oasis-Sec foam. The stems themselves also dry and shrink, so I secure them in the foam with a dab of cold glue. This creates a beautiful, long-lasting piece that can easily be reused multiple times as a reception arrangement.”
Flowers: Eryngium Magnetar Questar®, Clematis Amazing® Sofia
Reusing frames
One striking feature of Hanneke’s design style is the immense amount of time and effort she invests in creating the foundations, or “frames”, for her work. Inefficient? Perhaps—if they’re used only once. However, Hanneke designs her frames with reuse in mind. This approach ultimately saves time and makes complex designs more financially viable.
Floral couture – body deco
Body deco is a striking form of floral design often showcased in competitions and demonstrations. While it may not be suitable for every florist, the techniques behind it are universally valuable.
Hanneke explains: “This design starts with a base of handmade branches created from wire. I began with hundreds of golden iron rings, with artificial leaves glued between them. You could also use real leaves. Around two glued rings, I added a wire, which hides any glue residue, and then attached the wire to the branch.” Using several of these wired branches, Hanneke constructed the body of the piece before adding flowers such as Gloriosa, Clematis, Scabiosa, and Talinum. After a show, she removes the flowers, and the base can be reused for another photoshoot or demonstration. Hanneke: “You can also take the frames apart and turn them into something completely different, such as a frame for a bridal bouquet.”
We were struck by how beautifully the flower colours complemented one another. Hanneke remarks: “This work is technically very detailed, refined, and feminine. I never really make colour mistakes—I choose based on instinct, and it always works out.” Has she always had this talent? Hanneke elaborates: “Look, I’m lucky: I get to do what I love all day long. I have the freedom to create what I want. Over the years, I’ve made so many things that I now know it will always work out. Big failures just don’t happen anymore after so much experience. But I still test things, like how certain flowers behave when they dry. You learn something new every day.”
Flowers: Gloriosa Superba Simba Fifty Shades, Clematis Amazing® Miami, Clematis Amazing® Sevilla, Talinum Long John, Scabiosa Dark Cherry Scoop®, Phalaenopsis, Echeveria, Syngonium
Braided Gloriosa – a playful eyecatcher
When Hanneke discovered this vase, she immediately knew it had to be the foundation for a show-stopping design. For the frame, she used a material found close to home: “It’s pruning waste from our wisteria. As a florist, you should always keep an eye out for interesting materials. These branches are four metres long, cost nothing, are sustainable, and make a big impact. It looks impressive, but this frame was ready in just an hour,” she explains.
The frame consists of an iron ring, reinforced with thick aluminium wires to which the wisteria branches are attached. Hanneke used binding wire to connect the pieces: “Binding wire is smooth and strong, making it ideal for the technical foundation. I use bouillon wire more decoratively because it’s ribbed and not as strong.”
Hanneke chose Gloriosa as the main flower for this design, one of her personal favourites: “Gloriosa is elegant, powerful, and expressive. The Fifty Shades mix offers beautiful colour variations, so there’s always a shade that works with what I’m creating. I used these flowers in the European Championships as well. They pick up the colour of whatever is next to them, making them incredibly versatile.”
When placing the flowers, maintaining control is essential: “Gloriosa is very flexible, but I position them exactly as I want. They need to be evenly distributed, at all stages of bloom. Each stem has five flowers that all face the same direction—I guide them into place and secure them.”
Application: This design is perfect for symmetrical placement, such as on either side of a reception desk in a hotel. “The branches dry beautifully, allowing the frame to be refilled with fresh flowers. This way, the design remains dynamic and inspiring. The possibilities are endless,” says Hanneke.
Flower: Gloriosa Superba Simba Fifty Shades
Powerful shapes
Some shapes are perfectly suited for impactful designs. They are visually pleasing, with perfect symmetry. Hanneke highlights two of her favourite shapes.
Heart full of love – strength and emotion
Hanneke explains: “A heart is one of the most powerful shapes in floral design. I’m not a fan of figurative designs like guitars or bears, but a heart always works.” She presents a heart crafted from Hypericum berries and emphasises the importance of subtle details: “Getting the curve just right is tricky. Many people make the bottom straight, but I always add a tail to give it a sense of movement.” This type of heart is well-suited for funeral or bridal work.
The frame is made of thin aluminium branches that Hanneke crafted herself from wire. At the hundreds of wire ends, she glued the Hypericum berries one by one. “It takes about a day to create this,” she says. A week after completion, the heart remains beautifully firm and bright red. “Eventually, the berries will turn black, but the piece will remain stunning and durable for a long time,” she adds.
Technique tip: glue is essential for this design. Because Hypericum berries shrink as they dry, they would fall off the wire without adhesive. Can the piece still be reused? Hanneke responds: “Absolutely. You can snip the berries off with pliers, and the frame is as good as new. I always try to make my frames reusable in one way or another.”
The waterfall – a unique bridal bouquet
Bridal work is one of Hanneke’s personal favourites: “I love diving into the details. With a bridal bouquet, you have to work very precisely because it appears in every photo of the wedding day.”
For this bridal design, Hanneke chose a combination of colours and textures using Delphinium and Jacobaea. She emphasises that the two shades of Delphinium enhance the waterfall theme: “I’ve always loved waterfall bridal bouquets—they’re such a powerful form. The waterfall isn’t symmetrical but flows down one side in a simple spiral.”
The base for the bouquet is a simple, inexpensive bowl, turned upside down and mounted on wire to create a handle. The Jacobaea leaves are glued to the base using cold adhesive: “These dry beautifully, making this another excellent example of a durable design.”
Tip: the leaves will shrink as they dry, so be sure to glue them with enough overlap to avoid gaps that could reveal the base. To ensure a seamless finish, Hanneke always sprays the base in a matching colour. This way, even if the leaves shrink more than expected, the design remains flawless.
The waterfall itself is created using thin, dark blue aluminium wires. At the tips, individual blossoms from two shades of Delphinium are attached. Hanneke notes that every flower is secured with a dab of glue: “This is absolutely necessary; otherwise, they’ll fall off after a day of being carried around. Make sure to properly condition the Delphinium first by giving them plenty of water so they’re fully hydrated. That way, they last much longer when dry.”
After the wedding day, the flowers can be removed from the frame, along with any glue residue, leaving a clean frame for another project.
Hanneke explains: “When I still owned a shop, I sold a lot of bridal bouquets like this. Brides loved having a beautiful frame to keep afterward. It worked really well for us to show couples empty frames for bridal designs—it encouraged them to choose something unique. After all, you can’t sell what you don’t show. Plus, it’s convenient to complete most of the work in advance and only add the flowers at the last moment.”
The perfect fan – bold and strong
“The fan is a shape that naturally draws people in,” says Hanneke. “Its grandeur and symmetry make it powerful. I love using this shape in competitions.” Although the frame is typically symmetrical, Hanneke sometimes experiments with asymmetry in the arrangement: “For example, by placing two large flowers on one side. But the base remains symmetrical.”
For this design, she used seven eucalyptus-like iron branches she found at a garden centre. Hanneke shares a tip: “Always keep your eyes open. I look around in every shop for materials that can inspire new frames.” She bent the branches into the desired shape and connected them with wire. “The beauty of this frame is that it can be reused over and over with a new arrangement.”
Hanneke selected flowers that harmonise in colour and texture. Talinum, Scabiosa, and Gloriosa combine to create a cohesive design. “The white interior of the Clematis Amazing® Sevilla offers a stunning contrast, while its burgundy exterior perfectly complements the rest of the palette.”
Application: this fan bouquet is a striking eyecatcher, ideal for events or as a showpiece in a shop window. Its reusable frame makes it a sustainable choice for florists who aim to keep surprising their clients.
Flowers: Gloriosa Superba Simba Fifty Shades, Clematis Amazing® Sevilla, Talinum Long John, Scabiosa Dark Cherry Scoop®, Phaleanopsis, Guzmania
Sustainability and creativity go hand in hand
Hanneke’s designs showcase how creativity and sustainability can strengthen one another. By combining reusable techniques and materials with a clear vision, she provides florists with both inspiration and practical solutions for the future.
Want to learn more about the techniques Hanneke uses? Follow her on Instagram for updates on demonstrations and masterclasses.
A complete and versatile range
We conclude these trends with a personal note from Hanneke: “These designs were created almost entirely with flowers from the Marginpar assortment. Your flowers are perfect for every type of floristry: funeral arrangements, bridal work, bouquets, objects, body decor, wall art, reception arrangements, and event floristry. It’s truly special to have such a comprehensive range!”
And that’s what we’re here for.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Hanneke and Nico for this incredible showcase! After seeing so much beauty, we’re grinning from ear to ear—how about you?
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