Saying it with Fairtrade flowers!

This bouquet from ethical florist Arena Flowers, mixes peach and yellow roses with hot pink carnations 

and elegant eucalyptus, projecting a vibrant summer vibe.

Every order received is arranged and hand-tied by their florists to create a unique bouquet.

Photo by Lucia Carpio

Received recently a lovely bunch of flowers of which I was told was provided by Arena Flowers, a UK ethical florist that carries an official FAIRTRADE mark which means they adhere to strict Fairtrade Standards on economic, environmental and social requirements.

For more than a decade, Arena Flowers has been working directly with growers in UK and the world and only sources ethically to bring flowers that is Fairtrade, or British, or directly from the farmers themselves to their customers.  The company has been ranked as the UK's most ethical florist, with a perfect 100 score in 2019 on the Ethical Company Index.  And for every bouquet sold, Arena Flowers plant one tree in countries experiencing deforestation.

Mary-Ann Watt features her unique paintings on desirable homeware and gifts

British artist Mary-Ann Watt has launched an online shop selling a selection of homeware and gifts featuring her unique paintings of realistic flowers.  By concentrating on presenting close-ups of a single flower or a bud about to blossom or a flowering branch, her paintings are intimate yet bold, giving her range of products a contemporary style.

Explained Mary-Ann, "Long before I started my business I was always looking for homewares that would complement the soft greys and greens of my home but I could never find anything.  And I knew from speaking to friends that I was not alone.  So using my paintings as a starting point I decided to create my own range which would be stylish, very high quality, but above all, really beautiful - things tht people would want to have in their homes.  I am incredibly proud of the results."


Having studied art
at school,  Mary-Ann focused on building a home and a family in her 20s and 30s and it was only until in her late 30s that Mary-Ann started dabbling again, painting large, contemporary bold an colourful pictures she could hang at home.

Fine bone china mugs, hand decorated and fired in Stoke on Trent, feature images of beautiful pom pom flowers

by Mary-Ann Watt. 

Cotton cushion individually hand-painted with pink blossoms by Mary-Ann Watt.

It was an obvious leap she made from her paintings to a range of homeware including placemats and aprons, cushion covers, trays, fine bone china mugs and jugs as well as greeting cards and postcards. If you like her art, framed prints and original paintings are also sold in her website.

Mary-Ann has now enlisted her marketing consultant husband to look after the sales and marketing side of the business so she can concentrate on the creative aspects.  Now business is flourishing and she has plans to extend her range of products.  She said the majority of her suppliers are small UK businesses as the personal relationships an the high quality of their work are both key to maintaining the signature look and feel of the artist.

Glorious blooms. Funky Flowers.

Spring flowers in All Saints Park, Eastbourne.
Photo by Lucia Carpio

This is a most beautiful time of the year when the days are longer and vibrant floral blooms bring a sense of optimism, even when the frustrated political climate threatens our sanity.  But the blooms won't last and we can capture the unique moments by photographing them for continuous admiration even after the flowers are gone.

Hydrangia Clock from the Funky Florals collection at Perkins & Morley.
Each clock is hand made and decorated in Pershore in Worcestershire, UK.

Over at Perkins & Morley, their 'Funky Florals' collection  - Made in the UK - showcase large overblown flowers against contrasting primary colour backgrounds bring the good vibes indoors.  Hydrangeas, lupins, pansies, poppies, tulips and marigolds are given a pop art makeover to produce a bold statement on cushions, mugs and clocks.

Tulip Cushion (45cm X 45cm) made in England from the Funky Florals Collection at Perkins & Morley.
Available in either faux suede or cotton linen options.

Marigold Mug from the Funky Floral mug range at Perkins & Morley.
Each ug feature different flowers shown in cropped detail.
The mugs are in fine bone china sublimation printed in West Cornwall, UK.

The funky designs were taken from lino cut artwork by Jill Perkins, who co-founded Perkins & Morley with designing partner Jan Morley.  The two have been a designing duo since 1987;  they both studied graphic design at Middlesex Polytechnic and have shared passions for art, design, travel and nature.

FLOWERBX announces the close of seed-plus fundraising round and names Mark Sebba as non-executive chairman

Flowers continue to take their place in the news today when it has been announced that a new start-up business which has captured the interest of many fashion influencers and investors is on its way to greater success.

Promotional photo from FLOWERBX released to offer patrons the opportunity to send 100 of top quality Red Naomi Roses to their valentines earlier this year.  

London-based FLOWERBX -  the online, wholesale, flower-delivery website - has announced the close of its oversubscribed £1.5m seed-plus fundraising round.

Among FLOWERBX’s strategic investors are Dame Natalie Massenet DBE, founder of global fashion portal Net-a-Porter.com, Mark Sebba, CEO of The Net-a-Porter Group from 2003-2014; Carmen Busquets, luxury, fashion, and tech entrepreneur; business women Eiesha Bharti Pasricha and Tania Fares; Rose Uniacke, Founder and Creative Director of Rose Uniacke Studio; and Pat Finn, Managing Partner of Finn Capital Partners, a US-based venture capital firm.

FLOWERBX’s new growth capital will be used to accelerate expansion into new markets both within the UK and abroad, to increase innovative technological capabilities with a key focus on the customer experience, and to scale high-return customer acquisition programs. Revenues have doubled in the first quarter of 2017 vs the same period in 2016, and sales are on a trajectory to reach £1m in the next 12 months.

FLOWERBX, which is billed as one of the most promising startups in the $50 billion global flower market, is fundamentally changing the way that individuals and businesses purchase flowers according to its co-founders Whitney Bromberg Hawkings and Adam Wilkie.  As a proprietary, inventory-less operating model, the company delivers flowers directly from the auctions in Holland and cutting out the handful of middlemen that perpetuate the traditional bricks-and-mortar supply chain.

Since its inception in April 2015, FLOWERBX has attracted much attention from consumers and media alike, garnering press in the FT, Vogue, Esquire, The Times Luxx, Vanity Fair, Grazia, and Elle Décor, and won a prestigious Wallpaper Design Award for Best Delivery Service.   Covetable corporate clients include Dior, Bottega Veneta, Tom Ford, Jimmy Choo, Christie’s, and other notables in the high-end fashion industry, leaders in the restaurant and hotel industries, and celebrities.

According to its Chairman Mark Sebba, FLOWERBX is able to offer freshness while passing savings onto the customer, and its fashion-led design team offers exceptionally curated flowers and provide one of the first branded floral experiences.

Carmen Busquets says from her London base, “The FLOWERBX team reminds me of the Net -a-Porter team in the early days. One quote we all believe in is ‘think big, but start small.’ The FLOWERBX team understands the importance of building a strong brand. I believe FLOWERBX can and will become the international ‘Uber of flower delivery’. I have been a loyal client since day one as I know I can trust the reliability of the delivery, the freshness of the flowers and the quality of the presentation. Sometimes it’s hard to trust the taste level of a virtual florist, but thanks to FLOWERBX, there are no bad surprises. The presentation is always chic and elegant.”

Pat Finn, says from his California HQ, "the team at FLOWERBX continues to impress me with their steady-handed approach to building an enduring and meaningful brand. Amid the kind of robust growth that can sometimes challenge a company’s abilities to adapt, the mature and capable team is building something rare: a rapidly scaling brand with a strong foundation in an industry desperate for new solutions.”

From gardens to fabrics, flowers reign supreme.

Cherry blossoms in the photos above and below right were taken this April in a private garden in Eastbourne, the celebrated sunshine-coastal town in the south of the UK.  Photos © Lucia Carpio.

All women love flowers, Stefano Gabbana was heard saying last week at the Tokyo National Museum where he and his designing partner Domenico Dolce staged an extravaganza to showcase their exuberant designs as a tribute to Japanese culture.

Nearly 100 one-of-a-kind designs were presented to coincide with hanami, the Japanese fesstival celebrating the sakura cherry blossoms.

Indeed flowers bloom marvelously each spring in one form or another around the world for the admiration of women and men alike and have provided great inspiration for international designers the like of Dolce & Gabbana.

Fancy fabrics from SanMartin, Bella Tella, Tiss et Teint.  
Photo by London's Textile Forum  (March 15-16 2017).

At the Textile Forum show held this Spring in London's One Marylebone, fancy fabrics featuring the floral theme answered to the call for intricate embellishments, as presented by a number of fabric companies, textured with embroidery, appliques or sequins, on velvets and laser-cuts.

“Fabric designers have produced some of the most elaborate ranges we have seen at Textile Forum since the show was launched in 2002,” says co founder and organiser Linda Laderman.  “Suppliers have moved up a gear when it comes to creativity in texture, pattern and colour and are keen to introduce British quirkiness in design and artisanal techniques, to provide exciting collections to tempt fabric buyers.

“While there is an overall mood of optimism among the majority of exhibitors, there is no doubt that trade is going to be more difficult this year and prices have risen a little. With the decision to leave the EU and the uncertain consumer market, innovation, matched with exceptional service, are going to be the keystones for winning business.” 

At Bella Tela the Koh-i-Nor diamond and the regal florals found within the British monarchy regalia have provided the inspiration for its spring/summer 18 collection. Called Ethereal, it features 100 new designs and has used traditional artisan techniques mixed with delicate laser and intricate embroidery, with colours inspired by the fragmentation of light that occurs through the stone, so includes tones found between colours of blush, rose and coral as well as a new faint heron grey and subtle golden tones.
James Hare is responding to the return of colour in bridalwear with two new pastels - spring rose and blue prism – introduced into its chantilly lace group and a rose to co ordinate with its crepe backed satin and chiffon palette.

Sequinned appliques for bridal wear at Textile Forum.
  Photo © Lucia Carpio.

Lace continues to be strong with a new guipure featuring an intricately patterned, yet elegant, for a traditional style gown with a modern twist, available in black or white.

A selection of lace fabrics as seen at the Textile Forum in London.  Photo © Lucia Carpio.

Laces, intricate and delicate, from Bradshaw and Bradshaw, Cluny Lace and Michael's Bridal Fabrics.
Photo by Textile Forum.

Michael’s Bridal Fabrics, which has also extended its range of laser cuts with 3D effects, has a guipure with laser cut panels and another with embroidery and beading. It has also introduced its first print designs, including one on silk organza and will also have some new Italian jacquards.
As more brides now realise that the back of their dress is as important as the front, Michael’s Bridal Fabrics is offering a back panel design with a crystalled/beaded motif on each shoulder area, which is linked together by several layers of looped crystal or clear beaded bands.

Freddie's Flowers in time for Mother's Day in the UK!

These lovely stems of Rose 'Naomi', complimented with Limonium 'Sea Lavender' and Eucalyptus 'ViKtoria' were part of my first delivery of flowers from a young company called Freddie's Flowers.

In my box there were eight rose stems complete with the limonium and eucalyptus to accompany. I split them into two arrangements so I could spread their loveliness around the house.  They arrived on Friday just in time for my Mother's Day celebrations on Sunday March 26th.

The business was started by Freddie Garland (what a name) a couple of years ago.  He selects and designs a special bunch each week and patrons can join a subscription and get regular deliveries anywhere they like in the UK.

I got to know about Freddie's Flowers at the Affordable Art fair held at the Battersea Park in south London recently and thought I would give it a try.  Their promotional bicycle had a basket filled with lovely fresh flowers.

Freddie provides ideas for arranging the flowers and how to care for them.

Details are on the Freddie's Flowers website.

All photos © Lucia Carpio 2017.