How I Build An Edit

So firstly I guess we should start with - what even is an Edit? An Edit is a curation of flowers and foliage put together - very lovingly by me. It’s all the pieces that I think are interesting, beautiful and most importantly completely seasonally. It’s full of more unexpected elements and unusual flower types - not normally found either in combination together or typically sold in the usual flower shops.

All of the flowers are exactly of the moment, so no Edit will ever be the same, even if they fall in the same season. I guess they’re really hyper-seasonal. Meaning if it’s growing that week, it’s on the options board. I’m not sure if you’re aware but some flowers are only truly in season (I’m speaking in UK growing terms) for a matter of weeks. Making them feel even more special.

FIG. I Conditioning and sorting all the stems ready to be used

The process usually starts with a lot of research, I’m looking at what’s in season right now, what the growers are growing and supplying, and usually I take a trip to the flower market to see anything else for inspiration. From there I make a board, and start to try and visualise all my favourite things together.

I’m looking for mood, atmosphere, and I’m generally thinking about how it will look in your home. Not that I know what your home looks like, but the details. Like, where you might put it. On your kitchen table? In your living room? That sort of thing.

Within that, I’m also thinking about how what I’m choosing reflects the season. Are the colours right, the structure, does this make me feel like mid-Summer or early Spring? Generally what I’m going for is a reflection of what’s outside. Not necessarily a mirror image, but more of a feeling.

Not all the stems make it, and in previous Edits I’ve had things on my options board that I’ve loved. But for one reason or another they’ve not worked out. It’s generally how they blend with the rest of the Edit - maybe the texture is too similar to something already in, or actually I need the variety in a different colour to mix it up.

FIG. II Once conditioned I like all the varieties in their own vase ready to grab

Next I place an order with my suppliers and I bring in all the elements into the studio. So that nothing goes to waste, I do this alongside other things I’m working on and all the flowers get used in other areas. As a seasonally-led studio, I’m really selecting all my flowers in this way so there’s always cross over.

Taking some time to experiment, I start pulling flowers and foliage together. Usually the top 3 stems I’d had in mind all along. That might be a focal flower, a foliage and maybe a gesture flower. Slowly I’m building the base of the Edit, they’re the pieces that anchor everything together.

Once I can see this is working, I’ll start adding in other things I like, maybe another focal flower, or a softer gesture flower. I’ve usually got some back up options in case somethings really not working, so I like to play around until it feels right.

When the Edit is finished, I like to sit with it for a few hours. Take some photos and take a break from looking at it. If every time I look back at it and think - yes! - I know I’m on the right track.

FIG. III Trimming down the large orders in the studio

One of the things I love most about putting the Edits together is adding in something unexpected. For the Autumn 01 Edit that is going out this week, I managed to source some Hops. It’s one of those things that just pushes the boundaries a bit and makes it more fun. Adding in these elements is what I think makes the Edits feel a bit less predictable - which is all part of the fun of loving flowers.

FIG. IV Checking the combinations for each Signature Bunch size

I truly love putting flowers together and it’s a big part of why Sow Society leads with curation as well as design. Thank you for all the love and support on the Edits, and even if you’ve not yet got one. I hope that in the future there is one that really grabs you.