Better Than A Bouquet (Win!)

Floral bouquets make wonderful gifts, but have you ever wished you could take a traditional flower arrangement to the next level? Founded by Alisha Khan, Kanizsa Florals creates beautiful floral sculptures perfect for gifts, weddings and special occasions. The best part? these magical flowers can last years and look and smell as if they were picked yesterday! We chatted with Alisha to learn more. —Noa Nichol

When and why did you launch Kanizsa Florals? What niche were or are you aiming to fill?

After several years of research and design, we are pleased to announce that Kanizsa launched in April 2022. I have always had an obsession with flowers that started when I was a child, as some of my earliest memories are of my mom lavishing our home with flowers. I quickly learned that flowers in our house meant that I would soon be enjoying the company of guests and the fanfare of music, delicious food and dessert. My memories of my childhood are filled with so much joy from these occasions and it is that feeling that I was looking to remind my sister of when I was searching for the perfect gift for her birthday in 2018. After spending hours searching online for the perfect floral gift, I was surprised to find that nothing like what I had envisioned existed. All that I could find were traditional fresh flower bouquets or preserved flowers in a hat box arrangement. Needless to say, none of this fit the bill and I found myself giving a gift that had nothing to do with flowers. It was then that I started looking into the viability of starting a floral business and bringing my ideas to life. At Kanizsa, our message is to inspire joy, happiness and love for each other, which is expressed in our belief that “True Love Never Wilts.” Our ethos is to capture one’s eye with unforgettable florals. We are expanding into the preserved floral space and creating a new niche for floral art by blending the realms of nature, art, and design.

What do your current gift offerings consist of?

Our launch offering is our Cosmic Collection, composed of our crescent moon (Estrella) and star (Selene) shapes. I created these designs because they are symbolic shapes that everyone can relate to. Each culture and civilization has beliefs and meanings that are tied to these celestial bodies that speak to the individual’s perception of their universe. Whether it’s the need to feel inspired, when thinking of a loved one, or taking a moment to ourselves, it’s human nature to look to the heavens to feel connected or inspired. No matter who we are or where we come from, we’re connected under the sky.

We’ve always been really curious: what does the process of creating these flower sculptures look like? How do they hold together? Can they be made in any shape, and do some flowers work better to create these sculptures than others?

Creating a Kanizsa sculpture is a fun process where I start with a feeling that I want to express and begin to sketch my ideas. I focus on the aesthetics of not only the individual sculpture but also the collection as a whole. The shape and size of the sculpture as well as the types of flowers used are just some of the questions that I explore through my sketches. My favourite flower is the rose, as it symbolizes love and it is timelessly elegant. Roses also allow for symmetry and can elevate any space. However, in the future, there are some really beautiful flowers we can’t wait to showcase in even more exciting collections. Once I have a sketch I then move on to making prototypes where I experiment with different materials and finishes until I am satisfied that I have created a shape that speaks to the eye and heart in unison. As part of this, I am focusing on balancing the size and shape of the flowers with the negative space between them and ensuring that the overall shape and look is pleasing. Larger flowers mean larger negative spaces which can either be left unfilled or filled with smaller flowers. Smaller flowers, on the other hand, mean that you can create more intricate designs but the tradeoff is that you lose those luscious large blooms. Once I have finalized the design process, we move to the crafting stage. I say crafting, because each sculpture is a labor of love. Our team of floral designers handcraft each sculpture. No two sculptures are exactly alike, with each flower being unique in its size and shape, we take painstaking efforts to best place each flower so that each bloom is maximized and becomes part of a truly unique composition. With this attention to detail, as much science as it is art, the result is a beautiful floral sculpture, unique to the recipient, which they can enjoy for a year or more.

What at-home care instructions are provided, to make them last?

That is the best part, there is little to no maintenance needed for our sculptures. I know that people are busy and after a long day, the last thing they want to do is change water, clean a vase, or cut the stems off of their flowers. Our sculptures do not need water and for the longest possible enjoyment, should be kept out of direct sunlight, and in an environment with low humidity. If you find that the flowers have gotten a bit dusty after a time, we suggest a light dusting using a can of compressed air from a minimum distance of 18 inches.

What’s the largest or most intricate one you’ve created? Have there been any shapes that simply haven’t worked out?

In preparing for our launch, I decided to reduce the number of launch items from 12 designs to two. Don’t worry, many of these shapes are likely to be released in the future as new additions to the collection. However, the largest and most intricate of these designs was a sunburst which we ultimately decided to forego due to challenges relating to size and weight. I learned a ton about product development, sampling, the process and costs involved, and ultimately that simplicity and elegance in design is key. I am excited for the launch of our upcoming collections as there are many beautiful designs we are working on and we look forward to growing the company to provide designs we know our customers are waiting for. One of our designs is a very unique and grand sculpture with over 300 roses!

What else would people be surprised to know about flower sculptures?

Our flower sculptures are made with the best quality flowers that can be grown. Only the healthiest of flowers of the ideal shape and size that are selected to undergo the preservation process. Flowers that don’t meet this criteria cannot result in a beautiful product. Typically, only the top 30 per cent of flowers are chosen for preservation. Rest assured that the flowers in your Kanizsa sculpture are some of the finest in the world.

Why do you think they can convey a message better or differently than a straightforward or traditional bouquet?

Kanizsa sculptures are designed to capture the eye by blending the worlds of art and nature. Our sculptures are novel pieces, but also have symbolism associated with the shape of the design. These meanings and the messages associated with the act of gifting are attention grabbing for the beholder, taking the recipient back to the time and place of that gifting experience. Aside from the meaning and messaging behind the gift, our sculpture brings vibrance and appeal to any space.

We have to know: which has been your absolute favourite flower sculpture to create so far, and is there a “shape” you’re dying to make for someone?

My favourite design is the star, Estrella, as it reminds me of the possibilities that one has in their life. I often look up at the night sky and find myself in wonder of the beauty of the stars. That being said, I am so excited to share some of our upcoming designs and I certainly have one or two other favourites among them.

kanizsaflorals.com

Win! A Kanizsa Florals Arrangement Of Your Choice Up To $525!

Congrats Debbie A. of Fergus, ON, who will receive a Kanizsa Florals arrangement of their choice up to $525! Please note: if you are the winner, you will receive a DM (direct message) in Instagram directly from @vitadaily.ca. Please be wary of fake accounts, which often use similar handles with an extra or missing letter, number or symbol. We will never ask for a payment or for your credit card number, and we will never ask you to click through a link. If you are unsure whether you have been contacted, via Instagram, by us or a fake account, email us before responding.