Iona Mathieson of SAGE Flowers (2019) by UnknownGarden Museum
In 2020 florists Romy St Clair and Iona Mathieson of SAGE Flowers resolved to change the landscape of the floristry trade in England.
Romy St Clair of SAGE Flowers (2019) by UnknownGarden Museum
They had sought to recruit non-white people to work alongside them at their Peckham based studio but had always struggled to find anyone.
Iona Mathieson and Romy St Clair of SAGE Flowers (2020) by UnknownGarden Museum
Feeling that lack of diversity in floristry and horticulture has always been an undeniable truth and one so often ignored and too easily shrugged off they resolved to try and change things. They didn’t think they had the power, voice or resources to do anything about it on a large scale, but after a summer of civil rights protests, they decided to make a positive change.
Future Flowers training (2020) by UnknownGarden Museum
To help address the very real barriers ethnic minorities experience in establishing careers in floristry, SAGE Flowers have established FutureFlowers a free three month training programme, that will run four times a year.
FutureFlowers training workshop (2020) by UnknownGarden Museum
The course covers bouquet assembly, vase arrangements and large installations, as well as flower theory and practical advice for running a business.
Students from FutureFlowers training event (2020-09-25) by Emma HouseGarden Museum
As part of the final piece of training on the course students create a large scale floral installation.
Flowers for FutureFlowers training event (2020-09-25) by Emma HouseGarden Museum
This provides them with the experience of working on big floral displays for event floristry and weddings.
Students from FutureFlowers training event working at the Garden Museum (2020-09-25) by Emma HouseGarden Museum
The Garden Museum hosted the first group of FutureFlowers students who worked on the theme of A Midsummer Nights Dream.
Students from FutureFlowers working on an installation at the Garden Museum (2020-09-25) by Stephanie TelisGarden Museum
Within the first few months of starting up the initiative the courses have been fully booked through to the end of 2021.
Flowers for FutureFlowers installation at the Garden Museum (2020-09-25) by Stephanie TelisGarden Museum
Students from FutureFlowers working on an installation (2020-09-25) by Stephanie TelisGarden Museum
Romy and Iona have found the response from participants to be ‘So positive!’ and have realised that ‘the fact that the courses are booked until the end of next year (plus a growing wait list) has shown us there really is a desire from non-white ethnicities to get into floristry. Many people had told us “there are no black/ brown florists because they just don’t want to do it”, which obviously isn’t true.’
FuterFlowers installation at the Garden Museum (2020-09-25) by Emma HouseGarden Museum
Futer Flowers Installation at the Garden Museum (2020-09-25) by Emma HouseGarden Museum
Floral installation by FutureFlowers students at the Garden Museum (2020-09-25) by Stephanie TelisGarden Museum
Expensive training courses and unpaid internships remain a real barrier to people from ethnic minorities wanting to enter the profession.
FutureFlowers installation at the Garden Museum (2020-09-25) by Stephanie TelisGarden Museum
So the project is developing relationships with other florists to offer paid internships for the attendees when they finish the course, to gain some hands on industry experience and continue with on the job training.
SAGE Flowers
FutureFlowers
