@fllorarrosa
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Flora Rosa on Handmade
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I interviewed Soni Bloo, the girl behind the brand Flora Rosa, about the process of sewing and selling her one-of-a-kind pieces, her biggest style inspirations, and her exclusive flirty and sexy line, Fleur Femme.
Flora Rosa is a one-woman sustainable, slow-fashion brand that hand-sews original floral, feminine designs. Hand-sourced fabrics are upcycled and given new life, which makes each piece even more special and unique. Flora Rosa builds genuine connections with her clientele and customers to ensure they feel important and welcomed. Soni explained that she cherishes her customers' input in the design process of making custom pieces. Flora Rosa is just one of Bloo's lines as she has branched out into a few other lines with something for everyone, from Fleur Femme evening wear to Fleur Bleu graphic tees. And if you're lucky, you can become a client and purchase a custom design from Sonis Studio.
Shop her latest collection, Bonita Sita, now.
Flora Rosa is a one-woman sustainable, slow-fashion brand that hand-sews original floral, feminine designs. Hand-sourced fabrics are upcycled and given new life, which makes each piece even more special and unique. Flora Rosa builds genuine connections with her clientele and customers to ensure they feel important and welcomed. Soni explained that she cherishes her customers' input in the design process of making custom pieces. Flora Rosa is just one of Bloo's lines as she has branched out into a few other lines with something for everyone, from Fleur Femme evening wear to Fleur Bleu graphic tees. And if you're lucky, you can become a client and purchase a custom design from Sonis Studio.
Shop her latest collection, Bonita Sita, now.
Q: What are closet must-haves for a Flora Rosa summer?
A: Definitely any Flora Top with simple white bottoms. Cute mini skirts are a MUST! Pleated skirts, ruffle skirts, and you can never go wrong with a classic jean skirt. And definitely a cardigan to tie it all together! And for shoes, flats always.
Q: Your pieces are all original designs, but is there anywhere you get inspo for colors or styling from?
A: Yes, all original designs! Flora Rosa’s statement colors are definitely pinks, greens, and browns inspired by flowers and the gardens. In the summer, I do like to dabble with fun prints and lean more towards blues & whites with pops of (cooler) colors.
For style inspo, I really enjoy the looks of beach chic, since growing up next to the beach I’ve always loved the beach and surf brands like Billabong and Roxy. I also love to incorporate Spanish undertones. And for a designer, I love early 2000’s Ralph Lauren Runway, Isabella Marant, and vintage Blumarine.
For style inspo, I really enjoy the looks of beach chic, since growing up next to the beach I’ve always loved the beach and surf brands like Billabong and Roxy. I also love to incorporate Spanish undertones. And for a designer, I love early 2000’s Ralph Lauren Runway, Isabella Marant, and vintage Blumarine.
Q: What distinguishes your two lines—Flora Rosa and Fleur Femme—from each other?
A: I’d say Flora Rosa is more for the day. Definitely more pops of color within the pieces so you stand out when you’re out and about doing whatever day activities you enjoy doing. Very floral and feminine luxury pieces. Beautiful floral silks, cottons, eyelets, and lace. All handmade from hand-sourced vintage fabric. I mean really how could it get any better!
Regardless of who or what you are into, Flora will make you look beautiful, like a flower.
While Fleur Femme is more night out, evening wear. Very dainty pieces almost like delicates. Almost always are the pieces solid colors and silk. Black & white, pops of red and navy blue. Very sexy and luxurious in ways of embracing “la femme”.
I think with Femme you have to be with confidence to really experience the pieces.
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Q: Walk us through the process of running your shop, from sourcing fabrics to sewing and packaging each item.
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A: Running my shop has definitely been a learning experience, but I think I'm really starting to get a hang of it, and I am so excited to keep it going!
Sourcing fabric is something I really enjoy doing because I get to go to fun vintage shops and second hand stores. And my next goal after I use all my fabric is to go to New York and scout out a few vintage fabric shops. As of now I don’t do much sourcing as I have a WHOLE dresser full of fabrics that I’ve sourced over the year! Sewing pieces, I think, goes three ways. First is making an original piece, which I think is my favorite thing in the entire world because I really get to play around with my creativity, finally create a design, and/or become experimental with no real pressured expectation. Regardless if the piece ends up being a prototype or a beautiful piece, I love the journey of making an original. |
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Second would be custom orders, which I do mainly for my clientele unless I have some free time and will take customs from a customer. Custom orders are fun most of the time because I get to work with different fabrics and sometimes become inspired by an order to try something new.
Third, is making pieces just for the brand to sell. I love this, but honestly it can get a little dull after making a piece over and over again. Nevertheless, I still love the process because the end goal is always accomplishing something beautiful, and that’s always a good feeling.
With orders and packaging I do everything by hand, from making the piece, putting tags on pieces, assembling the boxes, to decorating the boxes with personalized Flora doodles, which fun fact, I also hand-painted the Flora Rosa logo on my tags with watercolor back when I was first starting my brand! Then I package the piece with a handwritten and decorated “How to care” card, which consists of how to care for the piece. The boxes are recyclable, and if customers send boxes back, they will get a 15% discount on their next purchase. This also reduces waste by reusing boxes! Lastly, for an even more sustainable approach to packaging, the tape used on my boxes is made from bamboo, not plastic!
Third, is making pieces just for the brand to sell. I love this, but honestly it can get a little dull after making a piece over and over again. Nevertheless, I still love the process because the end goal is always accomplishing something beautiful, and that’s always a good feeling.
With orders and packaging I do everything by hand, from making the piece, putting tags on pieces, assembling the boxes, to decorating the boxes with personalized Flora doodles, which fun fact, I also hand-painted the Flora Rosa logo on my tags with watercolor back when I was first starting my brand! Then I package the piece with a handwritten and decorated “How to care” card, which consists of how to care for the piece. The boxes are recyclable, and if customers send boxes back, they will get a 15% discount on their next purchase. This also reduces waste by reusing boxes! Lastly, for an even more sustainable approach to packaging, the tape used on my boxes is made from bamboo, not plastic!
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Although Flora Rosa does have a website, it’s mainly for collections. Most of the items on the Flora Rosa instagram page are available for purchase through Direct Messaging (DM). Honestly I really love taking orders through DM because I get to connect with my customers and supporters, which I think is so amazing and beautiful. I certainly value trust and genuine conversation with customers because that way, I really get to know what they like. Then I do my best in delivering that to them as a whole. This is so important to me, especially for the brand's community.
Q: You’re currently selling tops, skirts/bottoms, dresses, and shoes on your website: are you interested in selling accessories or bags?
A: I think, in the future, I will definitely make cute bags made from quilted material, bags for tote, makeup, travel, etc.
I do love jewelry as well to pair with my pieces. My go-to’s are pearls! But I think if I ever branch off into selling jewelry as accessories, I would try to work with other small brands to support and promote their talent/work. Also, my go-to accessory, which I have available most of the time are cardigans!
Something I will be working on in the next year as an accessory/piece (hopefully) is bikinis! I don’t want to spoil too much but definitely look out for sustainable kinis from Flora!
I do love jewelry as well to pair with my pieces. My go-to’s are pearls! But I think if I ever branch off into selling jewelry as accessories, I would try to work with other small brands to support and promote their talent/work. Also, my go-to accessory, which I have available most of the time are cardigans!
Something I will be working on in the next year as an accessory/piece (hopefully) is bikinis! I don’t want to spoil too much but definitely look out for sustainable kinis from Flora!
Q: How would you style a flowy white top?
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Shop The Look |
Q: Finally, do you have any tips for other small business owners who are trying to sell their own handmade clothing pieces?
A: Yes! Never give up and keep going, and if you are thinking of starting up a business just do it! Also, something really important to me personally is having good connections, a really strong support system, friends that are the same as you, and being around people who lift you up and inspire you. And definitely acquire the skill of discipline. But most importantly, love and take care of yourself.
Mazy Top Review
Soni was so kind to send over a classic Flora Rosa piece, the Mazy Top. The package arrived on my doorstep in a beautiful pink box adorned with floral hand-drawn designs, serving as a taste of Soni's hopes to personalize the shopping experience. Accompanying the top was a watercolor decorated card with care instructions and a reminder that dry cleaning is recommend to keep the delicate piece in pristine condition.
Out of the wide selection of florals and other summery prints, the version I received was a blue and green floral patterned. The top features a smocked side to allow for a more comfortable and customized fit. Additionally, the top widens towards the hemline to create a flouncy look (a staple style in my summer closet). The long, lightweight ties sewn onto the sides make it by far the most versatile clothing piece that I've ever encountered. It can be tied in a bow for a feminine take on a classic tube top, worn around your neck as a flirty halter neck, tightened below the bust to create an empire waist, or even wrapped on the side to wear as a skirt. There are so many styles to diversify your outfits and fit whatever mood you're in.
I chose to don the piece as a wrap skirt paired with a white knit sweater and brown cowboy boots (sadly, not pictured here). I absolutely loved the way it looked on me, and it made me feel so confident. The only note I have is that since it was a little bit on the shorter side for me, I would recommend wearing safety shorts if you choose to wear it as a skirt. Overall, this is the perfect first piece to purchase for anyone who wants to support her business! The Mazy Top is available to shop now via DM @fllorarrosa. #prettygirlswearflora
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Mazy Top in XXS
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