Frida Kim is a highly renowned Korean floral designer based in London who works all over the world. Her floral works transmit harmony and respect for nature, finding beauty and love in how she uses her materials. She has developed a distinct style in her playful yet classy hanging installations and table arrangements that communicate deep emotions as they tell a story. Frida also gives workshops where she focuses on bringing out each individual’s creativity and authentic voice, just as she tries to do with the flowers themselves. This week, she's the main character in the florist special.
Seoul Roots, English Blooms - Frida Kim's Story
Previous to her floral career, Frida Kim ran a custom jewelry business in Seoul. After moving to London, she fell in love with the English winter gardens and the beauty of English flowers. She was fortunate to learn from great teachers who shared their skills and wisdom, helping her to refine her work as a florist.
Frida Kim sees flowers as storytellers, each with its distinct personality and presence. She takes on her role as a florist by imagining and then bringing to life arrangements that bring these natural narratives. Through thoughtful choices of colors, textures, and forms, Frida creates compositions where every flower and leaf contribute to the overall balance, allowing each element to stand out while forming part of a cohesive whole.
Her floral work reflects and shows her path in the floral industry, her journey, and her emotions, making each arrangement a personal expression of day-to-day emotions. Frida’s passion lies in blending the untamed beauty of nature with careful design, offering creations that inspire and resonate with those who encounter them. Flowers are her love language and she couldn't have it any other way.
She states:
"Seasonality adds a dynamic and evolving element to our work, especially when we work with local flowers and materials. It brings another level of inspiration and more importantly a deeper sense of beauty. It connects us to nature's cycles, influencing our experiences and moods."
Demo by Frida for @madridblooms
Frida Kim’s Floral Odyssey - Inspired by Beauty, Guided by Passion
While most find inspiration in the first flowers of spring or summer gardens in full bloom, the London-based florist is most inspired by winter gardens, a different face of plants and flowers combined with naked tree branches. Kim ensures that each flower and piece of foliage is given its own space, achieving a balance that allows each element to shine without overshadowing the others. Together, the flowers become the words and emotions of their unique story.
Frida:
"Ikebana goes beyond floral arrangements; it's like a meditative practice reflecting the essence of nature and the different seasons through harmonious and balanced flower placements. It’s about discovering and sharing your inner self."
It is perhaps the tendency towards minimalism informed by Frida's background that could explain her fascination with winter gardens. Her creations, shared on her Instagram page, walk the line between flower arrangement and art installations as her designs are often reminiscent of sculpture and contemporary art.
The designer describes her aesthetic as contemporary and organic, fusing her Korean heritage with her love of English gardens and flowers. She believes that every work she creates should be personal and that her story can be found and interpreted amid the petals and branches. She encourages everyone else to do the same: make their own stories and experiment with various things such as branches, fruits, and even weeds.
If you aim to take one of her workshops, make sure to stay up to date on Frida Kim's website, as she announces coming courses and classes there.
