At Rosaprima, we celebrate the over 25,000 florists across the globe who transform our roses into works of art. Today, we spotlight Mabry Hastings from Foxglove & Grace, a floral designer and Rosaprima fan based out of Austin, Texas. She was immersed (quite unexpectedly) in the world of floristry at a young age, and with her passion for flowers and a focus on wedding design, she has made a name for herself among Austin locals. Read more about her story below.
Tell us a bit about yourself and Foxglove & Grace. What attracted you to a career in floristry?
I’ve been working as a florist in Austin, TX for almost two years now. I never planned on becoming a florist; it just happened! When I was sixteen, my close friend (who is a designer) asked me to help her with a wedding she had one weekend. I wasn’t expecting to design anything – she just needed help cutting foam and processing flowers. That got dull quickly, so I asked if I could try my hand at creating a few centerpieces. Not only did she say yes, but after finishing my first arrangement, she let me make a few more. After we finished the centerpieces, she immediately hired and trained me to become her lead florist for the following fall season. I would be covering for her while she would be away for a few months on a mission trip.
Over the next 10 months, I worked with her almost every week designing, creating proposals, and learning how to run her business. On some days, we worked 20 hours straight from 4AM-12PM; I loved every second of it. Meeting with brides and creating a vision for them was one of my favorite things to do. In fact, I started booking some weddings on my own for the fall.
In October 2019, my boss decided she was not going to come back to Austin and continue running her business. She asked if I wanted to buy Foxglove & Grace from her, and I did! At the time, I thought it was so amazing that I owned a floral business at such a young age, but that does not mean it isn’t any less stressful! I’m a full-time college student that’s having to juggle my business, my social life, and the organizations that I’m a part of, but I wouldn’t change it for anything.
What’s your favorite part about being a florist?
My favorite part about being a florist? I’d be lying if I told you I didn’t love flowers, but it’s really the people that make me passionate about my job. My dad always tells me that “the ‘who’ is always more important than the ‘what’.” Grabbing coffee with my brides and chatting about their vision is what drives me and my business. Without the people, my business would be a hollow entity.
What’s your signature design style?
It’s somewhat difficult to put my design style into words! I usually lean more towards natural and organic shapes, with a focus on replicating nature as best as I can. I also love free-flowing and bouncy arrangements with character.
Where do you look for inspiration for your designs?
Inspiration is everywhere. Social media, the great outdoors, even the city where I live has so much character and so many colors that make me want to create at every turn. And let’s not forget the amount of creativity in Austin: everyone and everything makes me want to design something beautiful!
Do you have any go-to trends for the spring/summer 2020 season?
I used to try to stay away from trends, but the latest dry and dyed floral craze has caught my eye. Some of my favorite designers like East Olivia and The Flower Witch are making the most unique arrangements with dried and dyed florals. It’s so addicting. They last forever and are so much fun to play with!
If you had to pick your favorite Rosaprima variety, which one would it be and why?
My local wholesaler always sends me Rosaprima. It’s one of their top brands and I’ve used almost every Rosaprima variety – from Juliet to Ocean Song. If I had to pick a favorite, it would probably be White O’Hara. I used to tell my former boss that I would pay anything for its fragrance to be bottled up. The variety smells so good and is a favorite among my brides.