The event stylist : Flowers and avant gardens

MANILA, Philippines - It seems only apt that in a world that has become increasingly image-savvy, a new crop of jobs has made it to the fore. From multimedia entrepreneurs to, ehem, eventologists, this new world has a different set of job demands.

Enter Mia Lozano, owner of Bloomwoods, an all-occasion flower shop empire, and a self-styled event stylist. Mia has been quietly making a name for herself as a flower designer bar none, by letting a little flora into the rooms, halls, and events of some of the city’s biggest hotels.

Still, on top of all these credentials and displays of floral fashion, one question remains: What the hell is event styling?

Taking a break from styling Supreme’s Christmas tree to end all Christmas trees — a cross between Poison Ivy’s lair and Grey Gardens like avant garden — Mia sits down with us to talk hotels, flowers, and her empire state of mind.

Supreme: In your own words, what is event styling?

Mia Lozano: Basically, being creative and having original design and come up with materials within the budget of each client.

What’s your job description? In an event, what do you do?

Basically, I’m a floral designer. I draw and design for every event and center piece I do, like lobby center pieces.

And then you use draping to complement your flowers?

For events and weddings, I do. We put drapings and chandeliers, candles, and other materials to complement each event.

Okay, so event styling. How does one become an event stylist?

It’s not a traditional job. I’m sure when you were a child, you didn’t say, “Oh, I want to become an event stylist.” It started with floral designing, which is why I use a lot of flowers instead of props. After college, I worked in different companies. I was an employee then. I got burned out. I wanted to have a business of my own and, you know, I studied flower arrangement. And then it followed. From small orders and then eventually big orders, I got hotels. My first hotel was Makati Shangri-La. I do all of the flower arrangements for them, from their rooms to their restaurants and even their events. It’s hard to become an event stylist. It’s kind of like a calling. I guess if you’re a creative person, it follows. If you have creative blood in your body, it follows. I just felt like I could do it.

Were you always creative growing up?

I was always a bit creative with how I dressed up. I used some accessories, stuff like that. Flower designing, of course, was new to me.

So why flower designing? Why not another medium?

After I studied flower arranging and went to a lot of seminars and exhibits, I just thought this business is more interesting for me. It’s exciting for me.

After creating my first huge center piece, there was really a lot of buzz from the guests and people. I thought, this is fun and I have to continue doing this.

Times are hard and I’m sure this isn’t cheap. Why should people invest in flowers?

Well, flowers are feelings. They really have an effect on people. When people get them, they’ll feel sad or happy or whatever mood. Just a simple one-stem rose and a girl will smile. There’s something with flowers. You know, even in low season, people still get flowers to brighten up one’s day.

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Bloomwoods has branches at Makati Shangri-La, Edsa Shangri-La, Manila Hotel, and San Antonio Plaza Arcade in Forbes Park. To contact Bloomwoods, e-mail info@bloomwoods.com and bloomwoods@hotmail.com.