For four days beginning August 28 to 31, 2025, the floral artistry world’s focus and general attention will be on the World Cup Floral Art 2025, which takes place at The Hague, Netherlands. A significant event for practically every florist, this floral design spectacle — also commonly known as Florint World Championship Floral Art 2025—organized by Florint alongside the Royal Dutch Florist Association (VBW), features a host of floral designers and flower artists, who all seek the ultimate price. One of them is Magdalena Kahlina, a floral artist from Croatia’s Krapina-Zagorje County. Magdalena, also known as Megi, represents Croatia in the championship. Here, she candidly talks about her journey with flowers and expectations from the upcoming championships.
For 15 Years, Flowers Have Been Everything for Magdalena!
For Magdalena, it has always been about flowers ever since she—alongside her husband—opened a flower shop named Lara (Cvjećarnica Lara) in the town of Zabok in Hrvatska, as the Croatians call their own country. He floral journey has been one of continuously growing and getting inspiration from life experiences and the people around her, which she translates into works of floral art.
Photo by Magdalena Kahlina
Magdalena:
“It all started quite a long time ago. About fifteen years ago. That was when I had the opportunity, after finishing my training as a florist-arranger, which seemed like a very interesting opportunity. And now, I can confirm that. It is quite exciting and more challenging than my high school education (as a construction technician). From the very beginning until now, I have drawn inspiration from the desire for something different, challenging, and inspiring, which is possible with flowers.”
Thus has been her floral excursion. She participated in several flower events and ultimately was awarded and celebrated as the best Croatian florist at the National Championship of Florists of the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts held in Split. That was where she got the nod to represent her country at the World Championship of florists.
A trained construction technician — a far cry from traditional floristry — Magdalena says she was persuaded to compete in the National Championship of Florists of the Croatian Chamber of Trades and Crafts by her colleague Nikolina from Novi Vinodolski. Nikolina had convinced her from the previous year, to contest in Slovenia as well, where she also won first place. This motivated her to send an application for the National Championship, for which she was selected.
Magdalena:
“As a trained construction technician, I actually had no prior experience working in that field. But certain aspects; such as in technical drawing and hand-drafting, have proven very useful in the work I do today.”
In an event largely dedicated to the honor of Marko Marulić Splićanin, a Renaissance period Croatian poet, lawyer, judge, and humanist, the theme of the competition was all about Renaissance. It largely focused on Marko Marulić and his epic poem ‘Judita’. Thus, four works were made (Fantasy in a Renaissance 'Jardin', Stručak za Juditu, Table for Two, and Wedding Bouquet), for which Magdalena took two first and two third places.
She says she used as many materials and flower species as possible there, all of which were in Marulić's time. Such included lilies, roses, and Mediterranean fragrant plants such as rosemary, laurel, olive, fig, and almond. Her eventual participation in the Florint World Championship Floral Art 2025, as earlier noted, is a result of her winning first place, which she, reiterates, is largely attributed to her associates and friends, notably, Nikolina and Ela, who pushed her to apply. This decision, she says, has been one of her best.
Translating People’s Stories Into Floral Designs and Creations
Magdalena loves doing things differently. While sometimes she sticks to her quirky style—which her customers recognize and relate to—she often finds inspiration in doing her designs differently. Such was the case of the Renaissance-inspired designs she did for the 2024 Croatian Florists' Cup, the theme of which was Renaissance.
However much, she says, her style remains truly recognizable in her life environment. This has been confirmed in different situations where she has rendered people's life stories, and her own surroundings into floral compositions and designs. In essence, combining the incompatible often brings a smile or even a tear of joy to her customers, according to Magdalena.
Magdalena:
“I truly enjoy listening to people talk about their lives, and through those beautiful, sometimes sad, and sometimes happy stories, I have managed to create something visually aesthetic in different floral creations from my first day in floristry. This has proven to be successful for me over the years, as evidenced by satisfied and happy customers.”
Flowers have different symbolism and meanings in different cultures, so cultural background and experiences play an important role in floristry. This is a motto that she always works with. Floral creations, she notes, are shaped by the personal experiences of floral designers, who define their creativity, style, and choice of flowers, representing themselves through their recognizable style and work.
Focused and a Desire for the Best Possible Placement at the World Cup
So what does she think of the World Cup Floral Art 2025? Well, for Magdalena, competition of any kind is always good in life because it pushes one to be much better with time. She, therefore, approaches this championship with delight and strives to handle all the pressure that it brings. Her focus and desire is for the best possible position at the World Cup. Her biggest support system in this regard, she says, is her family, then her friends and colleagues, who give her the greatest encouragement toward achieving her goals.
Magdalena:
“Both personally and professionally, the World Championship has great significance for me, and I hope it will open up numerous opportunities for myself and all my florist colleagues in Croatia. I want more attention to be given to Croatia and its beauty. And for collaborations and workshops to become more accessible in the country. For the flowers, I love using Helleborus, Clematis, Scabiosa, Craspedia, Astilbe, and Gloriosa in my floral stories.
I would like to take this opportunity to give a special credit to my assistant, who will also support me during the upcoming competition. Her name is Rafaela Petrinić, but everyone knows her as Ela.”
Even so, she continues advancing herself through various other workshops and education, which means developing and building oneself. She believes that everyone learns something new throughout their lives, which helps in keeping up with the ever-evolving trends and innovations that are becoming more and more present every day. There is, practically, a demand for something new and previously not known every day. And since she loves and enjoys working with wire, she more and more offers it to her customers, who accept these novelties very well.
Because she is not directly familiar with the sponsors, Magdalena buys their flowers exclusively from the Croatian wholesale flower market. She, therefore, hopes for a direct collaboration after the World Cup Floral Art 2025 championship.
Magdalena:
“I hope that soon some important changes will happen in the world of floristry in Croatia and that more will be heard about us. This could bring many new things, both for myself and my colleagues. I want Croatian florists to be regarded equally with the rest of the world.”
She, similarly, wishes for more workshops, presentations, and education with renowned international and Croatian floral masters to be held in her country, and in due course, that she become one of the presenters. In that way, this would introduce her colleagues to her way of working and thinking.
What is more, she desires to, also, be among the best in the trade, learn from them, and introduce them to all the beauties of Croatia, and thereafter, pass her knowledge to children in schools and encourage them to love the world and see floristry as part of them, not just as a job they have to do.
Photo by @lara_cvjecarnica
All said and done, the matter at hand—attaining the best possible position and emerging top at the upcoming World Cup Floral Art 2025—is of great importance; at least for now. That’s where her eyes are set. And all Croatians are, definitely, behind her, and support her in this cause.
Photos by Magdalena Kahlina.
