Flowers, plants and trees complete the picture

Silk flowers and plants used to be 'plastic fantastic', but Silk-ka has almost single-handedly changed this image over the years. More and more hotels and restaurants are being decorated with the company's natural and progressive products.

"In the past, silk flowers were mainly known as fake flowers," says director Patrick Oude Groeniger. "There were also beautiful products made of silk back then but they were scarce." Oude Groeniger grew up as the son of a florist. So the love of flowers and flower arranging was instilled in him at an early age. After he turned out to be allergic to the natural product, he kept getting creative by developing silk flowers. Since then, Silk-ka has become one of the best-known designers and exporters of silk flower collections. "Our customers are garden centres, florists and home-deco shops, as well as stylists and project agencies. They use our products to decorate catering establishments and events, among others. The flowers, plants and green walls are very suitable for use in hotels. They contribute to the overall experience, improve acoustics and are also very easy to maintain. Why buy fresh flowers and plants every time, with the accompanying environmental burden, when silk flowers are not inferior to real ones?"

"Fashion is an important source of inspiration for the development of our new products," says Oude Groeniger. "Flowers are fashion! Colours, trends and design are the ingredients for our collections. The complete picture has to be right! Every day, our team works hard to provide customers with appropriate advice and twice a year, the design team launches a new collection. We are now seen as trendsetters. People don't want a silk flower, they want a Silk-ka flower.''

Silk-ka strives to make its products as true to nature as possible. "We even have a 'real touch' collection. Due to a certain technique, these hand-painted flowers look and feel very real. Our collection also includes progressive imaginative products that don't have to be realistic. For example, with a gold trim or glitter. From our range, customers can choose what is appropriate; the possibilities are endless." 

"More and more hotels and restaurants are recognising that our products lend themselves to more than just the little flower on the table. The customer experience is boosted by creating a 'green world' that matches the concept of the hotel or restaurant. This has become an important element in the (hotel) interior." For every interior concept, Silk-ka has a suitable interpretation. "For instance, our 'real touch' collection exudes high-end luxury, while the spring & summer seasonal collection is reminiscent of a walk through a blooming garden." To strike the right chord, Oude Groeniger says it is essential to think about green decoration at an early stage. ''Often, unfortunately, this is a closing item but fortunately it is becoming an increasingly natural part of interior design. I truly believe that greenery completes the picture. It gives your hotel personality." 

From its home base in Hengelo, Silk-ka works with florists and stylists who can provide complete decoration. Oude Groeniger: "Anyone can put a few flowers in a vase, but that does not create a total experience. At the entrance and in the dining area of hotel Van der Valk Schiphol, for example, a carefully composed combination of plants and flowers was used by master florist Menno Kroon from Amsterdam. Everything shows that the use of Silk-ka products was part of the design from the beginning. The execution is right down to the last detail. You imagine yourself, so to speak, in another world."

Silk-ka has several showrooms. The largest and most beautiful one is in Hengelo (Ov).