On September 15, Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, hosted a grand event – FloraFusion Kyrgyzstan, which combined a large-scale flower exhibition with a spectacular floral show. The exhibition featured Dutch flower growers who brought their finest products to the country, giving the local entrepreneurs an opportunity to experience the quality first-hand, ask questions, and establish direct business contacts. This became an important step towards strengthening cooperation and allowed local florists and companies to discover international standards of the floral industry.
Bringing Alive on Stage, Three Months of Intense Preparation
A special role in this showcase was played by Warja Abrosimova, who brought leading Dutch flower companies and producers to Kyrgyzstan. She also actively covered our event on her social media channels, ensuring that FloraFusion Kyrgyzstan reached a wide audience across different countries.
Another important guest was Petia Ivanova, an entrepreneur from the Netherlands. She personally delivered flowers for my show and helped me select exclusive varieties at the Dutch flower auction, thanks to which unique breeds, previously unavailable in Kyrgyzstan, became part of the program.
For me, this day was truly special: it was my first independent floral show. Three months of preparation, countless sleepless nights, and the hard work of an entire team came alive on stage.
Spring Opened the Showcase
Spring opened the program. As the music played, ballerinas in white tutus gracefully moved across the stage, weaving between floral compositions we called ‘snowmelt clearings.’ These arrangements stood in silver planters, from which bare branches and white Chrysanthemums rose upward—a symbol of purity and the awakening of nature.
At one point, a ballerina rolled a new planter onto the stage, and in front of the audience, I created a fresh composition. It was similar to the others but with a subtle difference: behind the scenes, the flowers were arranged strictly parallel, evoking the clarity of a bright spring day. On stage, however, I tilted the lines slightly, as if bent by the wind. This small adjustment completely changed the mood—transforming calm sunshine into the tension of a sudden change in weather. It was a visual demonstration of how form alone can alter the emotional impact of a floral arrangement.
Summer Followed in Unique Style and Fashion
Summer unfolded with a fashion show by the national design house Baira. Its head designer, Tolgonaï, created a collection in a contemporary style, deeply rooted in Kyrgyz traditions. For this performance, she carefully matched each dress with my bouquets, making every composition part of the story.
The bouquets carried a symbolic meaning. One resembled a pendant worn with traditional dresses, while others evoked the shape of earrings often found in Kyrgyz jewelry. Through this symbolism, floristry became a natural continuation of fashion, highlighting the beauty of national culture in a modern context.
All summer bouquets were created using the ancient technique of grass weaving (travopletenie). I used a variety of grasses, braiding their stems into frames that gave the arrangements a unified identity. This technique bound the collection together, giving it both harmony and originality.
The summer chapter concluded with a film about the creation of the collection. The very frames that appeared on stage had previously traveled with me across Kyrgyzstan—through mountains, steppes, and meadows—as I filmed and created bouquets in nature. Thanks to this film, the audience could see not only the final performance but also the creative journey behind it.
Then, Autumn Evoked Its Richness and Solemnity
When the curtains opened, the audience was greeted with a breathtaking sight: two giant crescent-shaped installations dominated the stage. Their massive frames were entirely covered with rushes, and their palette radiated warm brown and orange tones, immediately evoking the richness and solemnity of autumn.
The crescents were adorned with a brand-new variety of orange roses, flown in from the Netherlands especially for my show. Alongside them were exotic vandas, chestnut fruits, and delicate vines of wild clematis. Together they created the essence of golden autumn—bright, generous, and slightly dramatic. The autumn story reached its climax when a model appeared with a huge crimson bouquet, glowing like a burning sun—the last warm ray before nature descends into winter.
At this point, I invited Warja Abrosimova to join me on stage. In front of the audience, I created a bouquet as a surprise for a fashion designer who had once commented on my social media posts that she loved Asters. I had promised to create a bouquet for her, and that night I fulfilled my promise. Using flowers from Dutch producers, complemented by Asters from my own garden, I crafted a composition and presented it to her directly from the stage.
Winter Was the Grand Finale of the Show
Winter was the grand finale of the show. Each time the curtains closed and the scenery was changed, the hall filled with anticipation. Then, as the curtains opened, the audience gasped at the vision before them: ten models stood in luxurious gowns from Cosmobella. Each gown was a masterpiece of craftsmanship—so exquisite that their value could be compared to fine jewels.
But what mattered most was the impression they created. The elegant lines of the gowns, the floral compositions, and the snowfall cascading from above merged into a magical scene. The atmosphere was so captivating that I myself longed to be in the audience, simply to admire it from afar.
The winter chapter ended with a symbolic finale: a model in a wedding dress with national motifs appeared on stage. I personally led her across, and that moment brought our journey through the four seasons to a poetic close.
The Show Truly Touched the Hearts of the Audience Members
Such a project cannot be created in a week. Preparation took three months—a time of searching for ideas, weaving frames, rehearsals, and sleepless nights. After the show, many audience members confessed that they could not hold back tears. At first, I thought it was just an emotional reaction, but as more people came forward, I realized that we had truly touched their hearts. For me, that was the greatest reward for all the work behind FloraFusion Kyrgyzstan.
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Dutch entrepreneur Erik van Wijk. It meant so much that he traveled to Kyrgyzstan to attend my floral show. From the stage, I could see his eyes and his expression—his genuine interest and appreciation for what was happening. Meeting him in person was an honor, as I often encounter his flowers and his work here in Kyrgyzstan. His creations have long been part of our floral industry, and it was especially meaningful to share this moment with him.
Organizers
- Flora Service: Floral Studio, Bishkek (@floraservice.kg)
- Petr Anokhin: Floral Designer, Bishkek (@petr_anohin_)
- LaBotanica, Oksana Khvan: Floristry & Décor, Bishkek (@labotanica.kg)
- Kseniya Minkova: Show Director (@minkovakseniya)
- EventLab.kg: Event Platform, Bishkek (@eventlab.kg)
General Sponsors
- 7 Tsvetov: Flower Supplier, Bishkek (@7cvetov.kgz)
- Oasis, Kyrgyzstan (@flowers.kg)
Partners
- Cosmobella: Bridal Salon, Bishkek (@cosmobella_bishkek)
- Baira: National Dress Brand, Bishkek (@baira_kg)
- SahnaTech: Stage & Lighting, Bishkek (@sahna.tech)
International Experts and Partners
- Warja Abrosimova: Floral Expert, Blogger, Ambassador for Decorum & Interplant Roses
- Petia Ivanova: FlowerPortal (Netherlands)
- Erik van Wijk: Representative of Decorum Chrysanthemum Growers (Netherlands)
- Decorum Plants & Flowers: Premium Dutch Flower Brand
- Flower Portal: Dutch Export Company
- Linflowers: Dutch Chrysanthemum Grower
- Interplant Roses: Rose Breeding Company
- Deliflor Chrysanten: Chrysanthemum Breeding Company
