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The New York Botanical Garden’s annual orchid show opens Saturday
By
Precious Fondren
Published Feb 17, 2024
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Photo by Precious Fondren / Gothamist
By
Precious Fondren
Published Feb 17, 2024
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The New York Botanical Garden's 21st annual orchid show opens on Saturday and celebrates the use of flowers in fashion.
NYBG's President Jennifer Bernstein said the institution decided to highlight the relationship between orchids and fashion because the flowers have long served as inspiration for designers.
Epiphytic orchids
Photo by Precious Fondren / Gothamist
Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite floral outfits for this year’s exhibition, titled "Florals in Fashion," which will feature thousands of orchids hanging from trees and growing in pots around the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.
“There's a lot to take in and I'm sure that visitors are going to love it,” said Bernstein.
Bernstein said she was excited about their collaborations with three artists: Olivia Cheng, the fashion designer behind Dauphinette; Hillary Taymour, who founded Collina Strada; and botanical artist Kristen Alpaugh.
An orchid on display at NYBG's "Orchid Show."
Photo by Precious Fondren / Gothamist
Three different mannequin installations will feature the artists' orchid-inspired designs, which are mostly made from living plants or sustainable materials.
Bernstein said the designers spent months collaborating with the garden's horticulturists to bring the designs to life.
Taymour agreed to this year’s show because figuring out how to design “clothes” out of plants challenged her creativity.
“Orchids need a lot more love than you would think,” Taymour said. “So working with them in these structures was a little bit trickier but ultimately makes it more beautiful.”
An installation from fashion designer Hillary Taymour. She describes the creature as a cross between a frog, an alien, and a rhino.
Photo by Precious Fondren / Gothamist
NYBG is also bringing back its "Orchid Nights" for the 21-and-up crowd, which will happen every Friday and Saturday from March 30 until April 20.
Bernstein said the parties will take place in the conservatory , and they'll feature food, drinks and voguing performances by the Iconic International House of Miyake Mugler.
“People can take in the show at night when it’s beautiful,” Bernstein said. “The conservatory is really magical. It's going to be a lot of fun.”
The Orchid Show: Florals in Fashion opens Feb. 17 and runs until April 21, 2024. Tickets start at $35 for adults and $15 for kids aged 2 to 12. For more information visit here.
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Precious Fondren
Precious is a former WNYC & Gothamist culture reporter.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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