Acknowledged master binder Pim van den Akker travels all over the world to draw the attention of growers, florists, designers, media and consumers to the pure beauty and emotional expressiveness of flowers and plants. While creating his floral masterpieces and putting on demonstrations, Van Den Akker likes to include showpieces from the Phalaenopsis collection of Opti-flor.
During his travels, Van den Akker is busy putting on demonstrations, giving workshops, inspiring and teaching colleagues and students, as well as talking with the press and media. He also demonstrates in his shows that it is possible to create fantastic things with flowers and design. "I feel it's important to be able to share, to tell people and preferably show them what my work involves and how I achieve beauty in creativity through beauty in product."
Pleasure to work with
Van den Akker has been working with products from the Opti-flor collection for years. "When I was still decorating hotels in Amsterdam, I always used Phalaenopsis from Opti-flor. They already excelled in terms of ornamental value, flowering duration and durability." The products from Opti-flor are a pleasure to work with according to this internationally renowned floral designer. "I consider the collection to be a unique bundling of opulence and wealth, while at the same time having a distinct power. By that, I mean that Phalaenopsis from Opti-flor not only looks stunning with its unprecedented profusion of flowers and exceptionally long duration of flowering, the plant is also very strong. When you take the plant out of the pot, you see the evidence in the strongly developed root system at one glance. And similarly for the flowers and leaves. The leaves are sturdy and fleshy. In my work it is important that plants can endure rough handling."
Rest and attention
The founder of the popular inspirational website Flowerfactor.com has an idea about what the Opti-flor Phalaenopsis owes the combination of beauty and strength to. "At Opti-flor the plants are given all the time and rest that they need. This contrasts greatly with some other nurseries, where the plant is pushed to flower as quickly as possible." Van den Akker knows that at Opti-flor, the plants remain longer in the greenhouse than at the average Phalaenopsis grower.
New, trendy varieties
The internationally renowned floral designer has seen Opti-flor's reputation continue to grow over the past few years. "It is a company that is aware of what is happening in the world. They are innovative and respond well to changing developments and trends with new, trendy varieties. In addition, they are always concerned with how their products can best be presented." According to Van den Akker, Opti-flor hardly resembles a traditional cultivation firm. "It must be the passion and love for the product, in combination with traditional craftsmanship. I believe Opti-flor has transformed the cultivation of Phalaenopsis into an art form."
International top brand
Van den Akker has compared Opti-flor with the Swedish top-quality brand Volvo. "Extremely sound, superior quality with at the same time an enormous sensitivity for design. I don't think Opti-flor always realises it itself, but they have grown into an international top brand. I regularly encounter people talking about 'an Opti-flor'. That is an amazing achievement in the horticultural world."
