Silk flowers and how they became popular
When shopping for beautiful blooms, you will have two main choices – fresh or artificial. Silk flowers have a bit of a bad reputation due to some poor-quality products that hit the market years ago. However, this is quickly changing and we have seen an increased demand for quality silk bouquets. If you have ever wondered how these flowers became so popular, here’s a brief history.
Ancient use
Some might say that artificial flowers have only been around for a few decades or so. This is not the case. They can be dated back as far as ancient Rome and Egypt. Artificial blooms are now available in various forms, including paper, plastic and silk flowers.
Where it began
It may surprise you to learn that China is the country we have to thank for silk flowers. Back in the 12th century, the Chinese started making flowers using the cocoons of silkworms. These flowers were of the highest quality and attention was paid to even the finest of details.
Spreading around the world
France joined in the trend of manufacturing silk flowers by the 14th century. Many French artisans ventured to England during the French Revolution and, due to this movement, England enjoyed the benefits of experienced silk bloom manufacturers. The British eventually set sail for America and, of course, they took this knowledge along with them.
Today’s top manufacturers
Today, the top manufacturer of silk blooms is Japan. They are leading the industry in terms of artificial flower export. That said, the USA imports most of their silk wedding blooms from France while Italy is their source for funeral flowers.
Today, silk flowers and silk plants are readily available. The only thing consumers should be careful of is the quality of the blooms that they buy. There are still some cheap and unattractive options out there that you should beware of.