The Sustainable British Florist To Watch: Imogen Stuckes, Founder of Flowers by Imogen
This week’s Creative Careers interview is with the lovely Imogen Stuckes, owner of Flowers by Imogen, a florist offering sustainable fresh and dried floral styling with natural, seasonal, no-dye British flowers.
Imogen creates her stunning designs in her East London studio, using her flowers grown in Sussex and from other local farms, for bouquets, weddings and event styling.
90% of flowers in the UK are imported, so Imogen wanted to offer something different with Flowers By Imogen. She only uses sustainable mechanics in her installation work and the local flowers mean her carbon footprint is low.
What’s the piece of work you’re most proud of?
“Doing the flowers for my first wedding commissions this summer made me very proud. I’d come from just posting a few dried bouquets only a few months before, to creating the flowers for someone’s most special day.”
What would you say has been the highlight of your career so far?
“My mum has recently joined the business as a flower farmer and being able to create my weekly bouquets using all homegrown, British flowers has been a real highlight.
I can’t wait until we’re self-sufficient, bringing totally sustainable, local flowers to the rest of the UK.”
Who are some other creatives in your field that inspire you?
“I did one of my first courses at The Flower Appreciation Society, and their wild and whimsical style, as well as beautiful cutting garden, definitely inspired me to pursue floristry. Electric Daisy Farm are also huge advocates for British flowers and I love their creative photoshoots. Flower farmer Cel from Forever Green Flower Co is a real inspiration too; the flowers she grows are incredible and she often posts tips and facts on sustainability in the floral industry.”
If you hadn’t gone into floristry, what would you have done instead, or what would have been your ideal second choice?
“My first career was in food, health and lifestyle PR, which I pursued for five years before only recently changing to floristry. I still freelance in PR now, and it’s actually been immensely helpful for my business; the creativity, the ability to run an event, copywriting, contacts!”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
“Ask for help! As a small business (and a one woman band), I’ve been so overwhelmed by the support that my family and friends have given me, which I really wasn’t expecting. I’m very grateful to them all.”
Who would your dream collaboration be with?
“I would love to create flowers for a sustainable fashion brand, such as HURR, the fashion rental platform.”
What’s next for you, do you have any upcoming pop-ups or announcements to shout about?
“I am super excited to say that I will be hosting a month long pop up at Netil Market in Hackney from 6th September to 6th October.
I’m hoping to be able to offer in-person workshops soon, too. In terms of the farm, we have big plans for next year and from Spring 2022 will have tonnes of beautiful, sustainably grown buckets of British flowers to sell!”
What are your latest recommendations?
“Everything that Bread & Roses do constantly inspires me. They’re a social enterprise that train refugee women in floristry and essential skills so they can flourish. They’re on Instagram as @wearebreadandroses.”
What do you read regularly? Where do you use to keep up to date?
“For ethical fashion and sustainability news I religiously follow Venetia La Manna. I love listening to Girl Flower Podcast to learn about other UK florists’ stories. I read The Forward Lab for super interesting articles on sustainable living.”
What’s your current manifestation – what are you wanting to put out into the universe?
“I’m getting more weddings booked in which is super exciting, but I’d love to collaborate with some sustainable fashion brands as well! A press interview in a national magazine would be incredible, too.”
A huge thank you to Imogen for agreeing to be featured in our Creative Careers interviews this week.
If you’re a budding florist, we hope you found this interview useful and gave you some ideas of people to watch and publications to read to stay inspired. Or, if you’re in need of some sustainable floristry – you need look no further. Got a wedding or event coming up? Get in touch with Imogen to get your order in!
