The most imaginative Australian florists
Unconventional floristry is all the rage right now. We take a look at the talented people bringing these zany arrangements to life.
It would be unfair to say that floristry is experiencing a ‘revival’, because it never really fell out of fashion. After all, these are flowers we’re talking about – everybody loves them! But in recent years, a cohort of especially creative florists have been pushing the boundaries of the art form, and expanding the definition of what modern floristry can be. Florists today aren’t just arranging posies and wiring wreaths; they are garnishing fashion runways with blue delphiniums, and transforming modern gallery spaces into living, scent-producing exhibitions.
In Australia especially, a group of wonderfully unconventional florists are, whether intentionally or unintentionally, transforming our perception of floristry from ‘trade’ to a serious form of modern art. And the rest of the creative industries must be taking notice, because today, there’s barely a fashion campaign, skincare launch or exclusive dinner that’s not covered in blooming bounty arranged by one of the country’s buzziest florists.
But who are these people, and more importantly, where can we purchase their work? We dug deep to find a selection of the most experimental Australian florists working today, so that next time you need non-boring blooms, you know who to call.
Simone Gooch
This Sydney native might be the fashion set’s favourite florist. She’s worked with Gucci, Chanel and Burberry among other luxury brands, festooning their campaigns and runway shows with her spontaneous, almost unruly arrangements, which bring colour and texture together in the most unexpectedly delightful ways.
Gooch launched her floral studio, Fjura (meaning ‘flower’ in Maltese) in Sydney in 2005, before shifting to London in 2015, where she lives and works today. Her creations are inspired by what’s in season, and though accessing her made-to-order bouquets from Australia is technically impossible, given she’s one of the world’s most talented (and her Instagram is blooming with floral porn) we figured it would be remiss of us to leave her off the list.
Sophie Wolanski
Native blooms are a given in any Australian florist’s wheelhouse, so when someone comes along with a truly inventive approach to our national flora, it’s worth taking note of. Sophie Wolanski of Muck Floral is one of those florists. Her compositions feel like joyful explosions of wildflowers, exuberant foliage and contorted twigs — stuff that some people might think of as offcuts, but Wolanski is able to beautify.
This minimal waste approach comes from her commitment to sustainable floristry practises — Wolanski only uses biodegradable floral foam (conventional floral foam is made from toxic materials that don‘t fully dissolve or degrade) and all of Muck’s packaging is made from by-products of the floral business. Wolanski is based in Sydney, and caters for everything from corporate events to weddings and styling for photoshoots.
Brær
If you’re an ikebana fan, you’ll love the work of Bangalow-based floral studio Brær (and if you don’t know what ikebana is, we’re chuffed to be the ones to acquaint you). Run by friends Georgia Potter and Azzmin Rayment, Brær specialise in quirky arrangements that poke out in every which direction, like little fireworks. Not afraid to mix native flowers with uber traditional blooms (such as this wattle and tulip bouquet), Brær is regularly tapped do installations for stores and galleries in nearby Byron Bay, such as this yolky little number for new ‘It’ destination, Sunseeker Motel.
Cecilia Fox
No one does a monochromatic arrangement quite like Cecilia Fox. Whether she’s working with zesty orange tones or a spectrum of pinks, her bouquets are like leafy bursts of colour and texture that deliver a visual serotonin boost. Previously Melbourne-based, she’s recently shifted her practise to Tamaki Makaurau (Auckland) in New Zealand. We wouldn’t be surprised if the North Island records a rise in wedding bookings because of it.
The Colour Blind Florist
Benjamin Avery is the man behind The Colour Blind Florist. He went full-time with his venture last year, when “shit really hit the fan”, and, from what we can tell, there won’t be any looking back from here. Based in Sydney, his use of colour is punchy and acerbic (in the best possible way), and his affinity for Spathiphyllum blooms is inspiring. He’s what you might call ‘one to watch.’
The Stone Willow Studio
Ani Wilson’s arrangements are so artfully composed, they look a bit like still life paintings. The Brisbane-based florist trained at the prestigious London Flower School, and it shows: her eye for unusual colour and texture combinations – she’s known to incorporate a nob of ginger or artichoke stem into her designs – is truly unique. All of her blooms are sustainably grown and sourced, too, so you can rest assured no chemical pesticides will follow your bouquet into your home.
Rebecca Grace
If you’ve ever been to a wedding or similarly fancy event in Perth, it’s likely you’ve had the privilege of being surrounded by arrangements by Rebecca Grace’s floral studio, Natural Art Flowers. Her creations literally drip with colour – see the fluffy chenille fronds that pour out from her hanging installations. But her real signature has to be orchid arrangements. Spilling out from elegant vases, Grace is able to make the fragrant yet unassuming bloom feel like a centrepiece.
Christelle Scifo
Based between Sydney and Paris, Christelle Scifo is the visionary behind Fleurette, a flower studio that also specialises in set design, production, object styling and events. Fleurette’s clients range from Australian skincare brand Aesop to jewellery icon Tiffany & Co., but what really defines Scifo’s work is her ability to create feeling and engage the senses through a clever combination of colour, scent and styling. She also incorporates found objects and antiques into some of her installations, which are a real treat to behold.
Hattie Molloy
Florists have been sharing their work on Instagram since the app’s infancy, but Hattie Molloy was one of the first florists to really cultivate a following on the platform. Her arrangements contain this playful, Wabi-sabi-style energy; they’re brightly coloured and a little surreal, like cartoon bouquets that have come to life.
Molloy has been expanding her practise to include artistic installations and architectural interventions more recently – in November last year, she decorated mounds of dirt with pink, red, yellow and white Gerberas outside the National Gallery of Victoria, which made Melbourne’s post-Covid reopening feel all the rosier.
Seed Flora
With over a decade in the bloom business, George Low and Elizabeth Johnson of Sydney’s Seed Flora are wizards at building inventive installations – their large-scale work can often be seen climbing the facades of buildings and events spaces, transforming them into real-life gardens of Eden. The duo’s Instagram presence is also incredibly charming, so if you like your flowers with a side of fun, be sure to give Seed a follow.