SO Gardening takes you to Italian luxury department store Modes where a recent collaboration between fashion and hand-blown glass vases filled with flowers courtesy of Hugh “Flowerheadz” Findletar produced a spectacular backdrop for fashion designer Grace Wales Bonner to showcase her SS23 collection. What made the moment even more symbolic is the fact that both creatives are of Jamaican heritage!

Multimedia artist Findletar’s love of flowers is legendary and his hand-blown Murano glass vases are coveted by notables such as Naomi Campbell, Suzanne McFayden and Miuccia Prada.

“I used green celosia (cockscomb) and proteas from South Africa,” shared Findletar from his home in Milan. “I wanted to wish Grace buona fortuna (good luck). The colour green is muted so would complement rather than overshadow her collection. Plus, Celosia is a symbol of boldness. The protea is the national flower of South Africa and I used to have them in my garden in Jamaica… I needed the afro connection.”

The image of Findletar standing outside Modes with a most spectacular box of gerbrera daisies for Grace gave SO Gardening #FOMO and an instant desire to fill our homes with them.

Gerbera daisies, we discover, are popular gifting flowers not just because of their visual appeal but, too, their long vase life and fragrance.

Dubbed the fifth most popular flower worldwide, the gerbera has a prominent flower head called a disk that is comparable to sunflowers. These disks are surrounded by satin-like petals or rays which come in lively colours such as pink, white, yellow, orange and red. Although there are miniature varieties, most gerbera daisies are large and grow up to 8 inches in diameter.

Next time you go shopping, add flowers to your list. Why? The presence of plants in a new home or store signifies the importance of creating a welcoming and inviting environment. Plants have a calming effect on people, which can help to reduce stress and create a more relaxed atmosphere. This is especially important in a retail setting, where customers may be feeling overwhelmed or anxious.

In addition to their aesthetic appeal, plants also have practical benefits for a new store. They can help to improve air quality by filtering out pollutants and increasing oxygen levels. This can create a healthier and more comfortable environment for both customers and employees, which can have a positive impact on productivity and overall well-being.

Kudos once again to Grace Wales Bonner and Hugh “Flowerheadz” Findletar…so perfectly magical when Rock stars collaborate!