Bunches: Corsage and Boutonniere

It is traditional for Alvenites to wear corsages and boutonnieres throughout the year. In Alven they are simply called 'bunches'. These can be very simple or elaborate affairs according to the fashion of the day. The Green Tongue - the name given to 'the language of flowers'- can show clan affiliation or other ties. Clanswomen will do the same but their corsage is usually a much more complicated affair and can be worn on their chest, waist, or head.
It is not surprising that such a common object has found many usages in Alven, which includes serving as secret emblems or symbols fro many societies.

Manufacturing process

Bunches are made at home by yourself or by family members. You can also purchase your bunch from street vendors. They can be found in towns and districts all over Alven. The most fashion-conscious clansmen and clanswomen also use professional Bunch Makers for the more elaborate headdresses and corsages. The Thane's Halls is well known for leading the fashion in that respect. In the Halls, arrangements are used to impress rivals and show how prosperous your clan is. Bunches made professionally often use rare items such as feathers and hothouse flowers in their composition.
Example of bunches worn as headdresses

Item type

Clothing / Accessory

Raw materials & Components

The plants used as secret symbols can be varied and impossible to track. As mentioned above, some plants can be a one-off: either a new colour of a common plant or an exotic flower brought from the south of the world.
Sometimes the symbol works by association: putting oak leaves beside a whitethorn bough in your bunch would mean that you still followed The Old Ways. As certain secret combinations become known to the world, guilds and organizations change their symbol ever so slightly and a hidden symbol can remain fresh for a few more years.
Where the bunch is worn can be part of the symbol too. There is a significance in wearing your 'flowers' on your left or right side. Courtship: traditionally if you wear your flowers on your lefthand side means that you are not yet promised and you could be courted.