On Wednesday night, Mike Hines, one of our 2012 innovators, launched Mike Hines Signature with a summery soiree at the Park Hyatt Chicago. On the same night as the hotel's patio opening, which drew some 230 guests, the launch let party-goers check out Hines' unique style of floral design.
"I want to encourage people to really think outside of the vase," Hines said. Working 26 hours—"straight," his team was quick to point out—before the event, Hines and his staff designed a sculpture that comprised 309 feet of wired garland and 700 Dutch Esmee purple hydrangeas. Using pulleys, the team arranged for the garlands to hang over the side of the balcony and crawl down the facade of the Gold Coast building.
While chatting with guests at the event, Hines disclosed other ambitions for nontraditional types of floral decoration. "I'd love to have all the buildings on Michigan Avenue open their windows and pour down flowers someday," he said. "It could so be done."
