We are delighted to share that the BFA team behind Fashion for a Cause has been named Best in Show at Fleurs de Villes DIANA, the world-premiere floral exhibition currently taking place at Somerset House in London.
BFA Board Director Donna Cornish HDF, Nicola Armstrong of The Bloom Room and Kerrie Raines of The Flower House created the BFA’s floral mannequin, one of 15 designs inspired by memorable moments from the life and public work of Diana, Princess of Wales.
We are also proud to see BFA members represented elsewhere in the exhibition. Katrina Skybak-Doyle of Cloud Hill Flowers created Captivating the World, inspired by Diana’s 1985 White House appearance in the Victor Edelstein gown made famous by her dance with John Travolta. Rachel Kennedy of Acacia Creative Studio created The Power of an Image, inspired by the Catherine Walker gown Diana wore to the 1987 Cannes Film Festival.
They were part of a much wider BFA member presence across the exhibition, with work from Claridge’s Flowers, Acacia Creative Studio, C Taylors Floristry, Cloud Hill Flowers, The Gravesend Florist, Moss Floral Art, BLÜM Floral, Jade Loftus Floral Design, Rose Garden Florists, Beehive Florist and Venetta Flower Gallery.
There was further recognition for BFA members too, with BLÜM Floral receiving the Most Creative award and C Taylors Floristry receiving the Most Realistic award.
A special thank you also goes to Tom Brown Wholesale, who sponsored the event and supplied the fresh and dried flowers used by the florists to bring the designs to life.
A floral story with purpose
The BFA team’s design takes its inspiration from a dramatic Emanuel evening gown worn by Diana in 1986. The dress has a story that goes far beyond fashion. Diana first encountered it at a British Red Cross fundraising fashion show and, eleven years later, personally selected it as one of 79 dresses offered in Christie’s landmark 1997 charity auction, raising millions for cancer and AIDS charities.
That history gave the BFA team a strong story to work with. Their challenge was to interpret the character of the original gown in flowers while creating something that would stand confidently as a piece of floral design in its own right.
The finished mannequin combines scale, movement, texture and detailed botanical work – a strong example of the technical skill and creative thinking found across professional British floristry.
To see that work recognised with the exhibition’s Best in Show award makes the achievement even more special.
British floristry on a world stage
Fleurs de Villes DIANA brings together floral designers from across the UK, with 15 fresh floral mannequins and a series of larger installations telling different stories from Diana’s public life. For us, it is a valuable opportunity to put professional floristry in front of a broad public audience and show just how ambitious, expressive and technically accomplished the craft can be.
The exhibition moves through four themes – A Global Icon, Cultural Diplomacy, Championing Change and A Wardrobe with Purpose – touching on Diana’s work around HIV/AIDS, cancer care, maternity health and the campaign against landmines, alongside the way she used clothing as a form of connection and diplomacy.
This kind of work shows floristry at its most ambitious: design, mechanics, storytelling, colour, texture and craftsmanship all working together. It is exactly the sort of public-facing platform that helps people see the breadth of skill within our industry.
We are enormously proud of Donna, Nicola and Kerrie for representing the Association so strongly, and delighted to see such broad BFA member representation across the exhibition – including Katrina and Rachel’s distinctive designs and further award-winning work from BLÜM Floral and C Taylors Floristry.
See Fleurs de Villes DIANA
Fleurs de Villes DIANA is open in the East Wing Galleries at Somerset House, London, until 6 October 2026. Alongside the floral mannequins are immersive installations, interactive photo opportunities and the chance for visitors to vote for their Fan Favourite floral mannequin.
Visitors can also use the code DianaFloral10 when booking to receive 10% off tickets until the end of the exhibition.
A portion of ticket proceeds supports The Diana Award, the charity established in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, helping young people create positive change.
If you are in London before 6 October, this is a rare chance to see British floral skill operating at extraordinary scale – and to see the BFA’s Best in Show design in person.
Huge congratulations to Donna, Nicola and Kerrie on the Best in Show award, and to Katrina and Rachel on their own contributions to this exceptional exhibition. It is a very proud moment for the BFA and a strong showcase for British floristry.
