Florally inspired

Third generation Karachi-ite Zarin Patel won the first prize at the World Flower Show in Yokohama, Japan on May 29, 2005, states What’s On, the newsletter of the Karachi Zarthoshti Banu Mandal (July 2005). The artistically inspired Patel has had her fingers in a myriad crafts but "there is a spiritual element in using natural things to make a beautiful arrangement,” she notes.

Called upon to compete in the class called "Inspiration from a Floral Picture,” one of 21 categories in the show, Patel found that "modern design inspires me, because it gives freedom of creativity and originality.” Comparing the art of flower arranging to that of sculpture, she says, "We work with color and shape in 3-D, and apply original thinking for new ideas and use material which has a limited life span.”

Yokohama, Japan, was the venue for the Eighth WAFA (World Association of Flower Arrangers) show this year. WAFA has 31 member countries. There were 600 participants at the show, 39 being from Pakistan. Hence it was with pardonable pride that Patel notes, "We won nine prizes (including two firsts) and came third in the world after Japan and UK. Also two of our colleagues were invited to judge the show and Shahimah Saeed, our WAFA president, was one of the five international demonstrators at the show. The others were from Japan, USA, Italy and Russia.”

Patel recapitulates the excitement of the day: "Early morning on the day of the show, the competitors assembled in the huge exhibition hall. The excitement and energy was palpable. We had six hours to put up our exhibits with a tea break in between when we got to stretch and walk around to view the other exhibits.

"The last half hour was frenzied activity. Everything had to be pristine! The last minuscule adjustment was made, a leaf repositioned, the flower just so and a last glance to see that the arrangement was within the space allowed and I left the hall, dragging my feet, still looking over my shoulder. Now for the long wait, for the results. We were too hyped-up to relax or even eat.”

At the "pre-view” ceremony in the evening, the patron of the show, Princess Hitachi of Japan cut the ribbon and all the contestants streamed into the exhibition hall. Patel says she was viewing exhibits from the other categories when some of her friends began to congratulate her.

"As each Pakistani winner was known, our elation increased. And after drinking sake from a square wooden box, I was on cloud nine!” she recalls happily.

For the next four days the contestants re-visited the hall and each time Patel says, "We saw and learned something we had missed. Our days were full and exciting with many demonstrations and lectures to attend and places to visit.”

At the formal inaugural ceremony each member country was asked to place its national flower on a huge map on the stage where each of the capital cities was marked out. Pakistan has been designated the host for the next world show in 2008 and Patel is one of the organizers.

Daughter of Minocher Patel, a cattle breeder and exporter of Karachi and Ruby (née Nowroji) of Bombay, Patel’s elder brothers Sam and Rohinton went to the B.V.S. Boy’s School and went on to become engineers. Sam, a civil engineer, worked for the Division of Highways in the US; Rohinton as a flight engineer flying 747s for Pakistan International Airlines and A.N.A. They both now live with their families in the US.

After a year spent on the American Field Service exchange program, living the American experience with a wonderful American family and attending high school there, the Convent educated Patel joined a textile firm operated by an American lady, a pioneer in block-printing in Pakistan, learning the trade under her tutelage. After extensive traveling through the Middle East, Europe, UK, Canada and USA, Patel writes of a spell of freelance designing while she continued her foray into various crafts. "I like to create and even today, my hands are my tools... Drawing, sketching, designing, music, theater and dabbling in all kinds of handicrafts. Over the years I have tried my hand at candle making, block-printing, wood craft, enamel work, batik and even taught these to children… I have also worked for two interior decorating soft furnishing homes in a management capacity,” a vocation she eventually had to forego to be with her ailing mother.

Patel says she joined the Karachi Floral Art Society (KFAS) some 12 years ago. It has been a very rewarding experience. Presently she is its chairperson, magazine and publication committee, and also undertakes professional work. KFAS is a non-profit organization and the money generated at their annual shows goes to deserving charities, she notes.