Mayesh Wholesale Florist Reflects On Fifty Years Of AIFD

For those of you that don’t know, this was my first year attending AIFD's National Symposium, and it was definitely the right year to go, as it was their 50th anniversary! The excitement and energy was palpable all week, and it was inspiring to be a part of such a big year for AIFD. To kick off the week, their first show was called "Reflections: AIFD's Five Decades of Design Excellence," and for a wide-eyed newbie like myself, it was a great way to learn about the history of AIFD, and really get a grasp on what it is all about. Five designers were given the task to transport us all to a different decade that they were a part of. Here's what we learned on our trip down memory lane!

1965-1975

Bob Gordon AIFD, CFD, AAF, PFCI

The sixties were all about geometric shapes. Two very popular bouquet forms were the asymmetrical triangle, and the round ballerina bouquet. To give us an idea, Bob recreated a bouquet that had been featured at AIFD's second symposium back in the sixties, using lily of the valley and phalaenopsis. Around the time that the Kennedy's came into office, things became a bit more casual than the severe geometric look, and looked towards nature to create forms. Such a fun time, and according to Bob " GEOMETRIC FORM IS COMING BACK!" So get ready, we're going back to the sixties!

1975 – 1985

George Mitchell AIFD, CFD, AAF, PFCI

Next, we traveled a few years forward to the heart of the seventies. Around this time is when floral design in the US really began to be influenced by European and Dutch design. There were lots of design classes in Europe that Americans and Canadians were flocking to in order to learn about European design. Everything was about texture, and bigger was definitely better. George's true love was designing garlands, and he showcased a beautiful, cascading garland inspired by these trends in the seventies!

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