Die Groenste Vingers is a reality competition series where 15 of the country’s top flower fundis compete to be crowned as having Die Groenste Vingers. Participants take part in different weekly challenges where they must each design and create unique floral arrangements, after which judges decide who will bloom and flourish, and who will wilt…
Franz Gräbe – Judge
Franz is a floral couture genius who, in addition to flowers for weddings and corporate functions, also designed a complete couture fashion range made entirely from flowers, sticks and leaves for South Africa Fashion week. Their Moët & Chandon collection was a world first that changed the way fashion was viewed internationally.
His company, Franz Gräbe Flower Couture, was appointed by Colin Cowie, an acclaimed Los Angeles-based events coordinator, to supply flowers for Oprah Winfrey’s private South African visit as well as for the launch of her Leadership Academy for Girls.
We recently sat down with Franz Gräbe, one of the judges on Die Groenste Vingers, and asked him 5 questions, to learn a bit more about him
You are dealing with a show where there are flowers and plants in abundance for the competitors to use. Do folks ever gift you with a huge bouquet on a special occassion, or are they too afraid to do it because they might think you will not appreciate it?
Your are 100% correct! Nobody ever does it. I suppose folks must feel that it is like giving bread to a baker, or giving ears of corn to a maize farmer.
Do you stealthily nab a cutting from somebody’s garden because you can not resist it?
You caught me out! I do it all the time and can not resist it. To excuse my behaviour, I would say that it is because gardeners are not so willing to dish out cuttings (I do not think this is true. Bad excuse!).
Who do you fear most when you have to do the floral decor for a wedding. The bride, her mother, or the-mother-in-law to be?
Oh, you have evoked a fearsome trio! I ALWAYS create an example first for them to see exactly what they are getting, but the one paying the bill will have my sympathy.
The floral art that you do, is much more than just sticking flowers in a vase, it hinges on intricate mechanics. Have you ever done an installation which came apart before the function has even began?
Thank heavens never! Did you forget that I am Afrikaans, and that we are always afraid that the client will be dissatisfied? I think it is an age-old inferiority complex imbedded in our tribe, so I (we) always over-perform and compensate for the worst and the unexpected.
What was the budget for the flowers at the Gupta wedding?
Yep! I should have guessed that you would try to catch me out somewhere! I can naturally NEVER divulge such information although I am itching to do it. I have not seen public photographs of these functions so, imagine one morning function around that enormous swimming pool at Sun City where its edge was completely surrounded by flower arrangements and all the palm trees were draped with strings of flowers and crystals 4 metres long. The tables were decked with exotic floral arrangements which took one’s breath away and drifting on the swimming pool were huge Hindu symbols created with thousands and thousands of flowers… Remember, that this was just ONE of the functions! Imagine what such abundance might cost and then add a lot of money to it and your estimation would still be a humble sum. But, I MUST inform you that my staff and I was treated like kings. Civilized and professional treatment the likes of which I have never since experienced from any other client. I guess its a double-edged sword. On one side, these wonderful and hospitable people and on the other side, the knowledge that your tax money paid my bill! So, there you have it!
Catch Season 2 of Die Groenste Vingers from Wednesday 26 October 2022 on DStv kykNET channel 144.
