Meet the FLORIST: Sophie Wolanski
October 2024
Hello flower lovers! In this gloriously blossoming month of October, I am delighted to introduce you to Sophie Wolanski, the founder of Muck Floral, a floral art studio in Sydney’s Marrickville. Sophie is known for creating stunning, sculptural creations that retain the raw beauty of the flowers and foliage she chooses to work with. She is also committed to making her practice sustainable, and to sharing her knowledge in this area with other flower fanciers. Her work is a true melding of art and nature.
Sophie creates distinctive arrangements and installations for weddings, events, private homes and editorial shoots. Her work transforms often-bare commercial locations into inviting and warm spaces. Her clients include high-end brands such as COS, Alemais and Aesop. In fact, I’ve been lucky enough to spot her dazzling work in some of the Aesop stores around Sydney more than once!
What I particularly love about Sophie’s work is the way she combines striking blooms with lush greenery and foliage. Her free-flowing arrangements celebrate the organic shapes of flowers and their natural forms, and her eye for balance and texture gives her work a sense of continuous movement. Her glorious pieces are bold works of art and have the ability to transform any space into an immersive floral experience.
In addition to her artistry, Sophie is committed to sustainable floristry. She minimises waste in her studio and has been a pioneer of foam-free floristry for some time, using alternatives such as metal stands, upcycled vessels, chicken wire and kenzan (traditional Japanese spiked flower frogs). She also integrates branches or plants as bases for her designs where possible, meaning the entire arrangement can be composted. This not only reduces waste but also serves to enhance the organic beauty of the piece.
Sophie’s commitment to sustainability extends beyond her studio, as she often shares her eco-friendly practices with other flower enthusiasts on social media, encouraging them to adopt more environmentally conscious methods in their own work. Through her dedication to both artistry and sustainability, Sophie has become an innovative leader in sustainable floristry. Because of this, she is an inspiration to me and to many other flower lovers out there.
Our flower for October is one of Sophie’s favourites: the peony. Here’s what Sophie had to say when I interviewed her for our 2024 Planner.
1/ What are some of your favourite flowers that inspire you? Why?
Any flower in its absolute prime inspires me. A sweet pea when it's plump and fragrant, a dahlia radiating like the sun, or peonies when they are so blown out their million layers of petals are almost falling off the stems. Even my most hated flower can become my favourite when it's at the peak of the season.
2/ Do you have any fun facts, growing tips or styling tips for peonies you’d like to share?
If you're entertaining, buy peonies a few days to a week before the event and let them open. Nobody wants to look at tight buds in a vase.
3/ If you could give any advice to aspiring flower lovers, what would that be?
Don't underestimate the importance of the vase you're using. The shape of the vase will dictate the shape of the arrangement. A wide, open mouth will allow stems to fall outwards whereas a tall, skinny vase will keep them upright. Think about how you want the arrangement to feel, coupled with the length of your stems. If you're gifted a bouquet, don’t be afraid to give the stems a big chop to fit it in the vase properly!
4/ Sustainability is a growing trend in the floristry industry. Flower growers and designers have become more mindful in lessening the impacts to our beautiful nature. What does sustainability mean to you?
Sustainability in floristry means owning your responsibility to, and impact on, the planet, and being informed. No foam – ever. Compost all flowers. Re-use as much of the plastic as possible – those floral sleeves don't get recycled so give them as many lives as possible. Buy local – no imports. Ask your florist where the flowers are from. Flowers are beautiful as they are, so scrap the dyed/bleached/dried stuff and go au naturale. (Even some dried flowers have been dipped in bleach to get rid of bugs.)
SHOP THE PEONIES COLLECTION
