the WILDER

collaboration

Wilder — a florist to some, so much more to others — has produced a limited edition handmade paper flower for Rue Blanche, inspired by the colours of the SS24 collection.

Behind the Antwerp Zoo, at the back of Antwerp Central (when you see the giraffes, you're almost there) there's a small façade with black, curved windows. When you pass by it in the warmer months, you might run into a cosy crowd gathering on the benches at front. The people behind this hearty place? Marijke Boesmans and Mayken Craenen, partners and proprietors of Wilder since 2018. The two met in a floral workshop — naturally — went for a coffee afterwards, and have been working together ever since. At the time, Marijke was one of the first in Belgium to work with home-grown field flowers, which she used to decorate events and sold via pick-up points across the city. Mayken had been creating visuals and texts for various clients and cultural projects.

For the people who don't know Wilder, can you explain what you do?

Marijke: Wilder is a shop situated in a bustling street close to the Antwerp Central Station. It blends the worlds of flowers, vintage and crafts together in a very personal mix. We want it to be timeless and natural, yet playful and fresh. Every week, from Thursday to Saturday, we arrange and sell a range of flowers and bouquets. We know our farmers personally and collaborate closely with them. From the start, sustainability, integrity and creativity have been the core values guiding us along the way.

I find it admirable that you implemented sustainability in your plans from the beginning. I can imagine that hasn't always been easy. How did it affect Wilder?

Marijke: We wanted to offer an alternative to the flower industry, where a lot is being wasted, flowers are flown in from exotic countries, greenhouses use tons of energy and pesticides and chemicals destroy biodiversity. To attain this, we've had to make clear choices from the start, not always easy ones indeed. Subsequently we've come across some challenges too, but we're very proud now, that we've managed to become Antwerp's first fully local, seasonal and sustainable flower store.

Marijke and Mayken inside Wilder.

"We’ve come across some challenges, but we’re very proud that we’ve managed to become Antwerp’s first fully local, seasonal and sustainable flower store."

To be clear: a local, seasonal and sustainable flower store?

Marijke: Since we wanted to buy our flowers locally, we had to follow the local flower season and sacrifice the supply of fresh flowers when they don't grow naturally. Basically it comes down to having fresh flowers from spring until autumn. In the winter season, we get creative with dried flowers, winter greens and branches. We also do our flower deliveries by bike in Antwerp.

The Wilder window display in the Rue Blanche store in Antwerp.

A look inside the Wilder store.

You do so much more besides flowers. Can you elaborate on the other aspects of Wilder?

Marijke: Yes! We've hosted pop-ups, exhibitions and workshops, launched collaborations, and hosted many a cosy evening on the pavement outside the shop. Our curation of objects blends naturally-made everyday classics like soaps, candles and incense with vintage ceramics and glassware, inspirational books, and other creations by both local and international makers. We also design our own range of stationery and create paper flowers.

Mayken: "(For the flowers) I use high-quality crepe paper which I often dye with inks and paints to add more depth or texture."

"We’ve created single stems, as well as ‘flower stones’ with a twin flower. These stand entirely on their own and are a bit more sculptural, with the roughness of the stone balancing out the fragility of the flower."

Mayken: "The ‘flower stones’ with a twin flower stand entirely on their own and are a bit more sculptural."

About the paper flowers. Mayken created two for Rue Blanche. How do you even begin something so elaborate as this?

Mayken: I used to make naive paper flowers with my mum as a kid, probably inspired by the Belgian tradition of selling paper flowers, in exchange for shells, at the seaside. I picked it back up in the early Wilder days, and slowly developed my skills. The "real" flowers in our store are surely an inspiration, however I like my paper ones to be complementary rather than a copy. I use high-quality crepe paper which I often dye with inks and paints to add more depth or texture. Then, there's many hours of precise cutting and shaping — and podcast listening — till the flower is ready to be assembled on an iron wire.

What!s special about the flowers you made for Rue Blanche?

Mayken: I've developed a colour palette inspired by Rue Blanche's Spring-Summer collection — a combination of classic, timeless shades and some summery in-between tones. This combination of dark and light, classic and fresh, can be found in both flowers. As the papers are hand-dyed and the petals are cut and assembled individually, each piece will have its unique character.

We've created single stems, which you can pair with your favourite vase, as well as "flower stones" with a twin flower. These stand entirely on their own and are a bit more sculptural, with the roughness of the stone balancing out the fragility of the flower. Put them in a pretty corner (best to keep them out of direct sunlight to preserve the colours), or give them to someone dear to you. They will probably last forever!

"As the papers are hand-dyed and the petals are cut and assembled one by one, each piece has its unique character."

"There’s many hours of precise cutting and shaping – and podcast listening – and finally the flower is assembled on a basis of iron wire."

Ready to be picked up.

The making of a paper heart.

In addition to the flowers, you also created a window display in the Rue Blanche shop in Antwerp. Can you tell us a bit more about the design?

The window display is an interpretation of the flowers we've made. Enlarged versions at the feet of the mannequins, visually tying the two worlds together, to lure passers-by into our collaborative garden. We've also created a poster to be displayed in all the participating stores.

Where can we go to admire and buy these flowers?

I have created the lilac and blue iteration in collaboration and especially for Rue Blanche. Customers can find them in their stores.

Thanks for the flowers!