To make artificial flowers for decoration, you will need fabric, wire, glue, scissors, and floral tape. Cut out petals from the fabric, colour them with dye, and press them into moulds to give them shape. Add wires to the petals to harden them, then join the petals to a stem constructed of tape- or paper-wrapped wire. Finally, place the flowers in a vase for display or use as decorations for other items.
Introduction
Artificial flower making is the process of making flowers from silk, satin, crepe, etc. These flowers look so real that sometimes it is difficult to tell they are artificial.
Artificial flowers are mainly used for decoration, gifting, and ornament-making.
There's tremendous demand from across the world for flowers made from artificial materials. Artificial flowers look beautiful and do not require a lot of investment and maintenance.
They can be kept indoors despite the seasonal changes and the weather. They are relatively inexpensive, so they can be changed often to freshen up the look of the house.
They need no maintenance like real plants do. There is no need to water them and you also don’t have to keep them in sunlight.
Did you know?
The first recorded use of artificial flowers dates back to ancient Egypt, where they were made of painted linen and used for ceremonial purposes.
History of Making Artificial Flowers
This art has been around for centuries. It is believed that it was started in China by artists who utilised silk to make artificial flowers.
Ultimately, it was meant to be a creative expression, not a business. Ladies living in the Imperial Palace in Tokyo ordered artificial flowers for their decor.
Even Egyptians made replicas of flowers using slivers of horns.
Europeans started practising this art in the 12th century. Italians were the first to make artificial flowers from silkworm cocoons.
Later, the French joined them in the 14th century. Soon enough, France became a leading player in the craft and kept improving its art.
After Mary Antoinette's reign, French artists who made artificial flowers travelled to England and spread art there. Later, the British spread art in the United States of America.
The art also spread to Japan and Korea through exports and trade. From there, it reached Western societies.
This art evolved a lot in the Victorian Age. Artists started to make flowers from many other materials apart from silk.
They experimented with crepe, satin, gauze, velvet, etc. Flowers were made from human hair and wax as well.
Americans used artificial flowers to make lavish flower arrangements. These flowers were also used in making wedding dresses, ball gowns, and other clothes.
Soon, artificial flowers were adopted to cover the short supply of real flowers.
Designing the Products
The design of an artificial flower is inspired by nature. Real flowers and various parts of real flowers are used as inspiration for making artificial flowers.
Manufacturers also produce artificial flower stems and leaves just like real flowers. While cutting the fabric, paper, or other material required to produce the flowers, the shape of the real petals of the flower is imitated.
A variety of colours are used to make flowers look beautiful yet realistic. The flowers are colour-coordinated while making artificial flower bouquets.
The colours and designs of the flowers keep changing based on the latest trends in fashion and interior decoration.
Also Read: Dried Flower Business: How to Start and Make Money
Materials Required To Make Artificial Flowers
The design of an artificial flower is inspired by nature. Real flowers and various parts of real flowers are used as inspiration for making artificial flowers.
Manufacturers also produce artificial flower stems and leaves just like real flowers. While cutting the fabric, paper, or other material required to produce the flowers, the shape of the real petals of the flower is imitated.
A variety of colours are used to make flowers look beautiful yet realistic. The flowers are colour-coordinated while making artificial flower bouquets.
The colours and designs of the flowers keep changing based on the latest trends in fashion and interior decoration.
List of Tools and Materials Used For Artificial Flower Making
Manufacturers across the world have experimented with various materials for making artificial flowers. The materials change according to the type of flower and market demand.
Inexpensive materials like plastic and polyester are used to make artificial flowers in bulk. Otherwise, these flowers are crafted out of a variety of materials.
Here is a list of flower-making materials.
- Paper or parchment
- Rubber
- Fabrics like silk, satin, cotton, rayon
- Latex
- Dried flowers and other plant parts
- Plastic
- Polyester
Material like silk, rayon, and cotton is used to make highly realistic, high-end flower arrangements. Cheap materials like plastic are not used for high-end arrangements.
Depending on the material and manufacturing process, you may need scissors, wires, and specially designed tools.
Manufacturing Process for Making Artificial Flowers
The manufacturing process for artificial flowers differs for paper, silk, and plastic flowers.
The Process of Making Silk Flowers
Silk flowers are considered high-end artificial flowers because silk is expensive. These high-quality flowers are for interior decoration, fashion accessories, clothes, etc.
Silk flowers are considered high-end artificial flowers because silk is expensive. These high-quality flowers are for interior decoration, fashion accessories, clothes, etc.
1. Fabric Cutting
Usually, white silk, cotton, or rayon is used for making silk flowers. The fabric is cut into the shape of the flower petals. The tools used to cut the fabric are custom-made. They are designed to cut the fabric into specific petal shapes.
2. Hand Dyeing Process
The fabric is dyed to get the flower colour right. The process of dyeing is usually done by hand. The petals are painted with cotton balls and paintbrushes.
For high-end silk flowers, colouring one petal can take a few hours. Lots of efforts are made to get the flower colour right.
3. Petal Shaping and Wiring
The petals are put into moulds to give them a more detailed shape. Heat is used to press the petals into those shapes. Later, wires are inserted by hand to stiffen the flowers.
Even the flower leaves are made using the same process. The wire is fixed with glue.
4. Stem Making and Attachment
An artificial flower stem uses thin wires wrapped in paper or tape. The flowers are attached to the stems by hand.
5. Packaging and Shipment
The flowers and stems are packed in boxes and shipped for shipment.
The Process of Making Paper and Polyester Flowers
The process of making paper flowers is also done by hand. It is similar to the abovementioned process, but these flowers are less expensive.
Small business owners make these flowers by hand.
1. Polyester is put into gelatin to stiffen it.
2. The polyester is cut into the shape of petals and leaves as per the design. This is done with scissors or stamps to cut more fabric at once.
3. The petals are given a more detailed shape using goffering irons of various shapes. The details are imprinted on the leaves with screen printing.
4. Various parts of the flower are assembled together using glue. Iron wires are used to assemble these flowers into an artificial flower bouquet.
The Process of Making Artificial Flowers from Glass and Plastic
Various procedures are involved in creating artificial flowers out of glass and plastic.
- The raw material must first be melted and moulded to make the flower petals and leaf mould.
- The petals and leaves are subsequently joined to the stem using various methods, such as welding or adhesive bonding.
- To acquire the correct colour and texture, the flower may receive extra treatments after it has been entirely built, such as painting or coating.
- Strong, long-lasting artificial flowers that can be utilised for decoration or other uses are the result.
Also Read: How E-Commerce Business Is Better Than Retail Business
The Process of Making Dried Flowers
Dried flowers are another popular variety of artificial flowers. They have a lot of demand in India as well as abroad. These flowers differ from other types because they are made directly using real flowers. Real flowers are plucked and dried to make these flowers.
1. Cutting the flowers: Flowers are plucked in the mornings after the dew evaporates. They are plucked and removed from the sunlight as soon as possible.
2. Drying: The next step is to dry the flowers. There are two main methods of drying flowers: sun drying and freeze-drying. Flowers are tied in bunches for sun drying and hung upside down in the sun. This method is easy and chemical-free. But it cannot be done during the monsoon season. There's also a chance of fungal problems. Freeze drying is done using special equipment, which is very expensive. But it produces high-quality flowers that can be sold for high prices.
3. Dyeing: The third step is dyeing the flowers. A special colour type called 'Procion' is used for dyeing. The dye is mixed with water and acetic acid before dyeing. The dried flowers are soaked in this solution until they absorb the colour.
New Technology for Artificial Flower Making
Technology makes artificial flowers look and feel real. It can help in producing dried flowers and even soft-touch flowers.
Leaves and stems of various shapes and sizes can be made using modern technology. The industry will evolve further to make flowers look even more similar to real ones.
Real touch is the latest industry technology. It has been developed over the past 20 years to make flowers feel like real flowers when touched.
Various fabrics and types of plastic are used to make real or natural touch flowers. A special chemical is applied to give an authentic finish to the fabric so that it feels soft like a real flower petal. Soft-touch flowers are also made using PU foam.
Conclusion
Making artificial flowers that look and feel like real flowers is an ancient art. Today it has grown into a full-fledged industry.
Many small businesses and large enterprises make artificial flowers from plastic, paper, fabrics, etc. This is a labour-intensive business as most of the process must be done by hand.
The main cost incurred during the manufacturing process is material and labour. Despite this, it is a profitable business due to its worldwide popularity and demand.
People demand artificial flowers worldwide for home decor, wedding decor, and dresses or ornaments. The colours and styles of the products keep changing as per the latest fashion trends.
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