HCM CITY – Bảo Hoài Nam, founder of Lavender Flower and Peony Home, will be the first and only Vietnamese artist joining the FTDWorldcup 2019, a top interfloral designer competition.

Begun in 1829, the Interflora World Cup is the world’s most prestigious event for the floral industry and design competition that showcases the most talented floral designers from around the globe.

The international floral design competition is held every four to six years and hosted in different locations. 

Florists’ Transworld Delivery (FTD) is hosting this premier competition for the first time in the US since 1985.

The competition, named FTD World Cup 2019 in recognition of the event’s host organisation, will include up to 23 countries and territories and is being held in Philadelphia at the PHS Philadelphia Flower Show in March.

The winner will be named Interflora World Cup champion.

Mai Hoa, chairwoman of InterFlora Vietnam, said: “This is a prestigious and professional event. Competitors will be selected after three rounds. They have the right to choose materials without any artificial materials.”

Hoa said that, along with the fashion and movie industry, floral art has now “put its feet on the world”.

She said she hoped the local artist taking part in the event will put Việt Nam on the world’s art map.

Hoài Nam, along with being founder of Lavender Flower and Peony Home, is also founder of Bonas&Keith. A florist manager at The Grand Hồ Tràm Strip, Nam has written many books and programmes about flowers.

Nam said: “As a floral designer, participating in the competition is my dream for the love of my country and my hometown. My biggest goal is to show the beauty of my tropical country, which is rich in horticultural varieties, modern looks and trendy floral arts.”

At the competition, a total of five design tasks will be held on the main show floor of the flower show.

The flower show will be open to the public starting on March 2 and will include a preliminary round with one prepared design task and one surprise package created by the competitors.

A reception will be held featuring a design demonstration by the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) and the announcement of the 10 semi-finalists.

The semi-final round will be held on the main show floor on March 3. The 10 semi-finalists will then complete a surprise package design task on the main show floor.  – VNS