No prize for Manayunk’s flower show display contestant
Manayunk business owner Davida Levin, may not have won the window design competition for The Philadelphia International Flower Show this year, but her ideas for next year’s competition are in full bloom.
Levin, who won the title in 2010 for the flower show’s “Passport to the World” theme, owns the Worn Yesterday kids consignment shop on Main Street. She covered her store window with vibrant, flower-laden clothes, grass skirts and rainbow colored leis in honor of this year’s “Hawaii: Islands of Aloha” theme, but didn’t get recognized by the judges this year.
“I think I have to do more with creating something from scratch,” said Levin. “The stores that won were stores that made things and created things like cut outs of mannequins. It was not just dressing up your windows.”
Next year, she plans to hire a professional photographer to take the pictures she submits, hoping it will eliminate the glare on the window. She plans to also get her customers involved in the display ideas.
In addition to being the only store in Manayunk to participate and the only children’s store in the competition, Levin thought her inclusion of the meaning of the flowery necklaces would enhance her chance to win.
“I thought I had a wonderful chance because I was the only store that actually pointed out what leis mean, which has to do with children and I am a children’s store,” said Levin.
Levin says the word “lei” can be translated in the Hawaiian language to “child” because a beloved child is clutched around one’s neck.
Despite her disappointment, she highly recommends others to participate because she said it’s a fun experience to be part of the show.
“I have a good time and the first year I did it, I won, so you always want to win again. I don’t know if they want you to win again, but I keep trying,” said Levin.
Participants were invited to a press conference last week where they received a certificate and two tickets to the flower show.
To view the winners of the window display, visit The Philadelphia Flower Show’s Facebook page.
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