The World’s Best Designers Take Center Stage at Interflora World Cup Competition

FTD and Smithers-Oasis North America are proud to announce their co-sponsorship of the floral designers representing the United States of America and Canada in Interflora World Cup, the world’s most prestigious floral design competition, in Manchester, England on September 7-9, 2023. Since 1972, this international competition has been hosted by different countries around the world every two to six years, most recently in 2019 in Philadelphia, PA by FTD.

This year, FTD and Smithers-Oasis NA are proudly co-sponsoring two accredited members of the  American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD): Jennifer Thomasson of Dallas, Texas, representing the USA and Lea Romanowski of Calgary, Alberta, representing Canada. Competitors from 20 countries will battle it out against the clock and each other to create stunning pieces of floral art and eventually claim the title of Interflora World Cup Champion.

Competitors 

Jenny Thomasson, United States of America

As the winner of the FTD America’s Cup national design competition in 2022, Jenny Thomasson will be representing the USA on an international stage showcasing her modern design talent. She is an accredited member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), Professional Floral Communicators International (PFCI) and European Masters Certification (EMC) and has published two books on floral design and is a featured designer in several industry publications. Jenny has presented at several AIFD National Symposiums and is the lead instructor at the Dr. Delphinium Design Institute in Dallas. “I’m passionate about pushing the boundaries of American floristry and promoting the art form in a fresh and modern way”, says Jenny.

“I'm passionate about pushing the boundaries of American floristry and promoting the art  form in a fresh and modern way.”

Lea Romanowski, Canada

Lea Romanowski won the Maple Leaf Cup in 2022 making her the representative of Canada in Interflora World Cup. She is the owner and lead designer at Designing on the Edge in Calgary, Alberta, a floral design instructor at Mount Royal University, and the current president of the Canadian Academy of Floral Art. Lea is an accredited member of the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD), the Canadian Academy of Floral Art (CAFA) and an AIFD Certified Floral Evaluator Judge. She is also the recipient of the Canadian Business Chicks “Woman of Inspiration” Lifetime Achievement award. “I get excited by interpretive themes which inspire creative and thought-provoking designs where I am inspired by form, function, and beauty. I also love assemblage art and recycling old items and adding to them, which ties into my drive for more eco-friendly design”, says Lea.

“I get excited by interpretive themes which inspire creative and thought-provoking designs where I am inspired by form, function, and beauty. I also love assemblage art and recycling old items and adding to them, which ties into my drive for more eco-friendly design.”

Competition Overview

The theme for this year’s Interflora World Cup competition is “Our Natural World,” where competitors will be asked to concentrate on sustainability and natural materials. The judges will be looking for designs to showcase respect for nature and the environment. The competition will include six heats during the three days of competition. All competitors will participate in the first four heats followed by a semi-final and final competition. Competitors will face tough tasks under strict time conditions. Some tasks they’ll know in advance so they can prepare, while others will be a surprise task that will require quick thinking.

Tickets are available for the on-site competition as well as streaming tickets if you can’t attend in person. Tickets can be purchased now here.

For more information about Interflora World Cup, visit https://www.interflora.co.uk/page/world-cup.