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During a warm weekend in August I went to London to follow a 1 on 1 course with Alex van Aesme. Despite the stress of the London Underground strike, I hit my bike at 40min. in West London. There, under an old railway, in a beautiful and atmospheric studio, I found peace.
Alex was waiting for me with a cup of coffee and to the tune of Johnny Cash we could start our "flower chat". Alex's story started a few years ago when she got tired of her desk job and went to NY for a short internship at a florist. On her return, she asked her sister to start a flower business together. The only condition was that they could grow their own flowers in a sustainable way. That is what Aesme still stands for today. Inspired by the natural British gardens the sisters know from their childhood, they select flower varieties with interesting colors and textures. They therefore work completely seasonally. Something I also strive for with Tante Fin and get a lot of inspiration from.
The bridal bouquet I made during my 1 on 1 course with Alex van Aesme.
Floral designer
The sisters have an incredible sense of design and detail. Each flower or leaf is given a specific role and position within their work. Form plays a very important role in their design process. This is also noticeable in Aesme's Instagram profile. Each design seems to be sculpted like a statue. But when asked if Alex would call herself an "artist" rather than a "florist" I get the modest response that she doesn't feel more elevated than other florists. "Floral designer" is the term she prefers.
Your own nature
I learned a new technique to make bouquets, got a lot of tips about running a sustainable flower shop,...but most of all I came back into contact with the love of working with flowers. As close as possible to my own nature. It is precisely that feeling that I want to convey to people who follow a workshop at Tante Fin. Following your own nature, with natural materials. In this way I bring a little Aesme to the bridal flowers in Schaerbeek.