Jaw-Dropping Flower Dresses from Fleurotica Raised More Than $80,000 for Garfield Park Conservatory

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This year's Fleurotica helped raise more than $80,000 last Friday night at a floral fashion fundraiser that, due to damage by last year's hail storm, took place at a new location – Venue One in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood.

All of the evening's VIP tickets sold out plus a tight general admission seating area accommodated more than 300 guests which was the largest Fleurotica turnout to date. Faces in the crowd included Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance Board Chairwoman Margo Morris, President of Tenglesen Family Foundation Jennifer Tengelsen, Tracie Hall from Boeing Company, Managing Member of Waterton Associates and GPC Alliance Board Member Peter Vilim, NBC 5 Entertainment reporter and celebrity emcee for Fleurotica LeeAnn Trotter, Chairman of the event and GPC Alliance Board Member Richard Wester, Candace Jordan of Candid Candace and local designer Borris Powell.

The Best in Show award for the runway event went to floral designer Lance Larson, owner of Blumgarten & Co., Chicago. Fourteen floral designers were challenged to create women's fashion wear made completely from plants and flowers. The contestants were judged by Chicago Park District’s Adam Schwerner, Christy Webber Landscapes’ Christy Webber, Designer Borris Powell and Frost’s Dennis Remer on creativity, artistry, design, and technical difficulty.

Highlights of evening included a welcome reception with music, open bar, and an "Iron Florist" contest. Two Chicago Park District employees, Matthew Barrett & Peter Vrotsos, volunteered their time to create a floral design from a mystery box filled with floral materials within 15 minutes. The two creations were given away as part of the live auction packages. The live auction raised nearly $15,000. The runway show was followed by an after party with dessert provided by TipsyCake and VeeV.
· Fleurotica [Official Site]
· Garfield Park Conservatory [Official Site]