When thinking about dreamy painted blooms and pastel-shaded goodness, the first thing that comes to mind is Flowers by Brett Matthew John. His unique eye for design and creative direction led to the lushest designs and the floral world is obsessed with every design by this fashionable florist. This week, he's in the spotlight of our florist special.
Meet Brett Matthew John - The King of Exceptionally Gorgeous Flower Arrangements
'Flowers' by the talented Brett Matthew John is creatively directed by Brett Coles along with head florist Madeleine Ruth Watts. Since 2016, FBMJ has experimented with various mediums to create ethereal, hyper-feminine blooms, resulting in floral experiences that are limitless and unparalleled. Brett's creative vision, which incorporates metallic hues, pearl accents, and an exceptional eye for detail, is redefining conceptual floral design.
Flowers by Brett Matthew John has styled top-tier powerhouse and luxury brands such as Chanel, Gucci, Prada, OMEGA, Emirates, ANTON, L'Oréal Australia, Paramount Networks Australia, and Sony Music Australia. Want to know more about him and the extraordinary work he creates and brings into the flower industry? To say you'll be impressed is an understatement!
Planning Every Arrangement Carefully to Create Works of Floral Art
Brett is a floral designer who loves to continue his exploration of the visual arts, combining his love of floristry with other artistic mediums. Drawing inspiration from contemporary art forms and obscure pop culture references is something he enjoys. Brett's references range from Ellen von Unwerth's seminal album campaigns to Kenny Ho's Spice Girls styling, striking a balance between the contemporary and the classic.
For every single arrangement he creates, there's a huge amount of planning behind in order to create the best, and only the best for his clients and anyone who is looking to meet and feel the beauty of flowers. A lot of planning goes into the creation of any arrangement large or small — from the first brief to curating the mood board, ordering, selecting the product, and styling the piece, as Brett says. For the floral designer, the most rewarding part of the day is seeing what he's working on come together to life as a finished product.
Seeing an amazed client is always such a rewarding experience and one he and his team don’t take for granted. For him, creating with flowers is his life and his talent is truly visible. The flower that he touches, the flower which he creates magic with. It's that simple.
In an interview for Thursd, Brett let us know more about his personal and career life. Learn more about this fashionable florist, who sees life through rose-colored glasses:
Looking at your Instagram, there's a lot of pinks! Is it safe to say that pink is your go-to color?
"I’m definitely under the solid impression that everything is better when its pink, so you could definitely say I live life through rose-colored glasses. I’ve always been drawn to pink and floristry has allowed me to indulge in this. I feel that pink can translate into so many varied emotions and feelings. A personal favorite is a marshmallow pastel shade."
You wanted to be a fashion designer but turned into a conceptual floristry design superstar. Does fashion still influence your work as a floral designer?
"It never fails to amaze me the incredible role the fashion industry plays in our industry, and how quickly this influence transcends into flowers and styling. Social Media is such a big driving force behind this and it’s fascinating to watch niche trends be picked up and then explode. At Flowers by Brett Matthew John (FBMJ) we have the pleasure of working with so many unique Australian designers and brands that allow us to work on the most fab briefs. Fashion is a key source of inspiration at FBMJ. Our consultation space has an ever-growing stack of Vogue, Elle and Harper's Bazaar which are always a great reference when we’re seeking something a little different to take a brief to the next level. Something as simple as a runway look, graphic or editorial can be the Inspo we need to bring the whole concept together to curate a floral vibe."
You are a floral designer, living and working in Melbourne. Is there a big competition amongst floral designers or is it a very friendly and open scene?
"I don’t believe there’s high competition, I believe there’s high demand. I think that Melbourne is home to so many unique florists, that are all in their own lane. No matter who you are, or why you require flowers there’s a creative out there for you. I saw a great quote recently that said 'Don’t put me on your moodboard. Hire me'".
Do you have access to every floral product you want to work with? Or are there flowers on your wish list you don’t have access to yet?
"There’s a huge wish list of flowers that the team and I would love to get our hands-on. We’re constantly on Instagram sending each other posts we find inspiring from florists over the globe. In terms of specifics I’ve loved to get my hands on some dyed Cymbidium orchids in shades of pink, obviously, and lilac. I've also gotten the chance to explore some more unique anthuriums in our designs in burnt orange and red tones. I’m also a huge fan of hydrangeas, specifically the candy varieties. My personal favourites are the phalaenopsis orchids. Specifically the mocha shades."
Australia’s flower market is filled with creative floral designers. Why is ‘The Outback’ - known for its endless sandy deserts - such a good place for creativity in floral designs?
"Australia has such a dry environment, everything is a shade of beige, sand or eucalyptus green. I think this really pushes and inspires designers to think outside the box. It really teaches you to appreciate what the market has to offer. The markets are a striking contrast to this with lush greenery and best local and imported blooms."
Is the flower market in Melbourne different from those in other cities in Australia?
"Melbourne is different from other cities in Australia like Sydney as we have great wholesalers. These aren’t open to the public either. We also have a large main market located in Epping so there’s a huge range of options available when shopping for an event. Wholesalers like Santospirito Flowers grow their own varieties. It’s great to buy local when possible."
It seems like the sky is the limit when it comes to your unlimited and unmatched designs. How do you inspire yourself to continue to develop creations, which are at the forefront of concept floristry?
"Inspiration comes from everywhere, really as cliche as that sounds. The team and I spend a lot of time of socials geeking out on flowers. I spend a lot of time looking at influences and observing how they capture a vibe and I enjoy a good blog. I love a good fashion magazine. I also feel like music really gets me inspired. I definitely work better if I’m working to the right playlist."
When it comes to designing an arrangement, where do you start and how does your day usually start?
"It all depends on why and what we’re creating. Usually, we start with a relaxed consultation with our clients over coffee to discuss their vision which then gets turned into a conceptual moodboard, followed by a colour theory chart. We take this to market with us as a reference when shopping and selecting products.
I usually meet Madi, the Senior Head Florist of my team between 6 and 6:30 a.m., and after a quick hello, we split up to look for the freshest, most exciting, and unique product we can find. We have fantastic relationships with our wholesalers, and they always have one-of-a-kind items reserved for us. They understand our style and preferences, whether it's local flowering Magnolia, Candy Hydrangea, or Lotus Flower."
.
While you soak up all these fantastic facts about Brett Matthew John and the spectacular work he does, you're more than welcome to also visit Flowers by Brett Matthew's Instagram to get inspired even more. He's a true rockstar in the floral industry!
Photos from Instagram: @flowersbybrettmatthewjohn and Facebook: @Flowers By Brett Matthew John.
