It’s always fun to know a little more about the Texas State Florists' Association's amazing presenters than what their bios reveal. In this new series of feature articles, TSFA takes you beyond the bio and shares just a little bit more about each of those who will add to your layers of learning throughout the year!
Meet Chris Hitomi Gilliam AIFD
Hitomi Gilliam will present two sessions at the Texas Floral Expo on June 27-29, 2025. She popularized Neotropica and defined Tropical Nouveau styling.
Gilliam was a farmer-florist, greenhouse grower and landscape designer turned retail florist during the first half of her career. As a sought-after floral educator, she has presented design programs and workshops worldwide for the past 35 years. Gilliam and her son, Colin Gilliam, founded DESIGN358, an education-based event company. She has published extensive educational programming and authored eight books.
A recipient of the American Horticultural Society’s Frances Jones Poeltker Award and a Gold Honors Best of Show winner at the Singapore Garden Festival Windows to the World International Floral Exhibit, Hitomi was inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) in 1986. She has presented 10 main stage programs at various AIFD Symposia, received the prestigious AIFD Award of Design Influence in 1998 and was a featured artist at the Les Fleurs Sauvages Art Exhibit at Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York City. She served as a judge for the 2020 Tournament of Roses Parade and is a Teleflora Education Specialist.
What is your first memory of flowers?
It must be growing over 350 varieties of fuchsias at Satsuki Growers. The farm was my first business after I finished school.
What experiences led to your interest in the floral industry?
I took my first wedding request at Satsuki Growers Plant Shop, after opening the plant shop in town. My retired florist friends showed me how to make wedding bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres, just one time.
What contributed most to your design education?
Competing and winning competitions at national and international levels have helped me learn, as well as some classes at AFS Education Center.
What has been your favorite job in the floral industry?
Teaching has most definitely been my favorite!
What intrigues you about the competition process?
The process grows you exponentially. It helps you to strive to be the best you can be. Hopefully the process leads you to come up with ideas for the winning entry. It most definitely stretches you.
What is one moment that changed your path?
Winning the Great American Design Competition, silver and gold, back-to-back years, took me on the road to present and to teach. I had no experience in either, so the time was a huge learning curve to learn to speak on stage. I had done no public speaking at all before winning this competition. Also, Singapore Garden Festival and winning at the international level amongst some of the best in the world was an amazing level up. This experience vastly expanded my world travel to present.
What is the greatest constant and the greatest change in our industry?
Greatest constant is forever teaching Elements and Principles of Design, which is a standard of excellence. Greatest change is to add in the sustainable aspects of our business in order to address the demands of the young floristry students who expect no less, because the future on our planet depends on it. Change will also address ways to serve the discerning consumers today and of the future. There are no other options but to care and be thoroughly knowledgeable about planet wellness.
What else of importance do you find of interest?
Steps to sustainable floristry so that, step by step, we understand and establish practices to manage the amount of waste to the landfill and separate the compostables. Creativity in design and in the new world of sustainable floristry is an exciting new field to pioneer and to teach!
Texas Floral Expo
Registration is open for the Texas Floral Expo! Join your floral family at the South Shore Harbour Resort in League City on June 27-29. At this conference, industry-leading presenters will share the latest tips and trends in multiple demonstrations, business sessions and hands-on workshops.
Don't miss these sessions presented by Hitomi Gilliam AIFD!
Saturday, June 28, 7:30-9:30 a.m. — Styling Everyday Florals
This presentation will be held in conjunction with the TSFA Annual Meeting and breakfast, which is included with your Everything Expo registration.
Creative templates for gorgeous designs can be formulated for a unique approach to floral styling. IT’S THE SECRET to maximizing size and impact with less stem count in the least amount of time. This constitutes the templates to profitability and business sustainability. Plan your floristry future with an "economy of means" based on ways to reduce the number of hours and rising cost of goods used to get more style with less. Gilliam will share her latest creative templates with you in this design presentation during the Saturday morning breakfast when all gather for the TSFA Annual Meeting.
Underwritten by Teleflora.
Sunday, June 29, 7:30-9:30 a.m. — Sheep and Cane: Styling With Fiber Art Structure Advanced Workshop
Join in to create a whimsical and versatile cascading design using wire techniques and a combination of materials. Whether for a bouquet, couture styling or a unique floral art expression, this session will guide you through designing a flowing, balanced composition. Enhance your skills and explore your creativity! Additional fees are required to attend this optional advanced hands-on workshop.
Underwritten by Teleflora.