Hanakotoba (花言葉) refers to the secret language of flowers.
Hanakotoba plays an important role in traditional Japanese culture. The ancient Japanese took the symbolism of flowers and elevated it to the highest point, developing a secret language that could be used to convey a variety of messages such as purity, nobility or love. It is a lesson that we can still use today, to find beauty in hidden meanings and cherish moments for it's ephemerality.
Each piece in the Hanakotoba collection reflects a sacred flower in Japanese culture. We hope that the vibrant colours and patterns evoke feelings of happiness and joy especially as we approach the warmer months.
The Hanakotoba Collection will be launching on Wednesday 24th of November at 7.00pm. Modelled by Sammy.
Hasu / Lotus
The sacred lotus, known as Hasu (蓮) in Japanese, is a flower with an extremely long history in Japan. Hasu is a symbol of purity for its ability to rise up beautifully from the murky waters it grows in. The beautiful pink flower symbolises enlightenment and truth, and it can often be found in ponds near temples in Japan during the summer months.
Tsubaki / Camellia
Tsubaki (椿) refers to camellias in Japanese. The camellia is a flower that has been loved in Japan since the Edo period. Although Tsubaki carries multiple meanings depending on its colour, the pink camellia symbolises perfect love, subtly beauty and discretion.
Ajisai / Hydrangeas
The hydrangea, known as Ajisai (紫陽花) in Japanese, are flowers that are known to brighten up the gloom that rainy seasons bring. According to Hanakotoba, Ajisai symbolises heartfelt emotion, including gratitude. Another common meaning for hydrangeas is family because the flowers tend to grow close together.
Kiku / Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums, known as Kiku (菊) in Japanese, has appeared on the Japanese Imperial Family's crest for generations. In Hanakotoba, Kiku is a symbolism of nobility, longevity, trust, and purity. Due to the noble connotations associated with the chrysanthemum flowers, they feature in many aspects of the Japanese Imperial Family and emperors.
Kinmokusei / Orange Osmanthus
Kinmokusei (金木犀) refers to the orange osmanthus. According to Hanakotoba, the vibrant orange flowers of the osmanthus symbolise truth and suggest that the receiver is both a noble and trustworthy person.
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