Gift Focus - Sep/Oct 2018 (Issue 109)

FLORALSILK Stand: G40-H41 floralsilk.co.uk It is all about living life on the wild side this year, as Floralsilk displays its new floral and foliage collections. The company has incorporated many new items in response to growing trends, including beautiful 'just- picked' wildflower bundles, wildflower garlands and summer wreaths. For that foliage fix, there are some gorgeous hanging green plants, including Spanish moss, Button Leaf and Leather Ferns. Large jungle Fan Palms and Banana leaves along with Zebra plants, Spider plants, potted Succulents and Cacti, which can make an impact, especially alongside a striking Heliconia Spray or Protea. Several contemporary floral arrangements have also been introduced, from pretty, fresh Anemones and Daisies in a milk bottle or Sweet Peas in a ripple vase to truly sensational statements such as a large Anthurium and Calla Lily centrepiece. Finally, for that inner wild child, Floralsilk has added some festival chic to the collection with an Orchid and Fern corsage that can be worn as a hair decoration or around the wrist. MANDARIN ARTS Stand: G01 mandarinarts.co.uk This year, Mandarin Arts is celebrating 30 years of bringing oriental giftware, artefacts, lighting, furniture and culture to Europe. On the stand, an eclectic selection of lamps, accessories and giftware can be viewed at close range – there may even be some terracotta warriors lurking in the shadows. Mandarin Arts has no fewer than 10 styles of rice bowl, each in a set of five in either identical or contrasting colours or designs. In the company’s crockery range, there are unusual tea sets to enhance one’s enjoyment of green tea, individual mugs with strainers and lids, tableware with grains of rice embedded in the porcelain, saké sets for sipping rice wine plus black and red sushi sets. The British company holds good stock levels at its base in the Brecon Beacons in Wales, from where it extends a warm welcome to all visitors.