Into the (bloom)woods

Ahotel lobby is a hotel lobby is a hotel lobby.  A big blank space with huge pillars and a few couches, maybe a dramatic staircase for effect, add a drop chandelier for more drama. How many places can you think of? A lot.

But add a touch of an avant-garde floral sculpture and watch how you realize that not all hotel lobbies are alike. Observe how guests stop, look and linger, and eventually have their photos taken with the living, breathing centerpiece. Chances are, that giant floral masterpiece that you’ve been talking about was orchestrated by Mia Lozada, chief artist and owner of Bloomwoods, the floral design shop at the Makati Shangri-La.

Flower girl: Bloomwoods chief artist and owner Mia Lozada

Remember the “Year of the Tiger” installation at the lobby of The Shang that had a giant feline head entirely made of flowers? How about the Mercedes Benz that was sitting on a bed of white roses? From dreamy, romantic to eccentric floralscapes, Mia Lozada has got that pixie dust that transforms normal-looking venues into grand displays of affection with the help of her floral friends. Think of her as Edward Scissorhands-meets-Betty-Crocker and you’ll have a fairly good picture of how Mia is, talent-wise, I mean.

There’s something different about Mia. When you look at her, you’ll see this spritely young lady with an effervescent smile. Upon closer inspection, the person you’ll meet behind the foliage is someone who is quite intense, in a pleasant way, but because she is driven to perfection. Every week, she mounts a show at the lobby of The Shang Makati, just one among her many clients, from weddings to events to special requests, which she attends to 24/7. To some, the installation of her floral designs has been a much-awaited event for hotel guests, curious as to what the Bloomwoods beauty would come up with this time. Mia never disappoints — her artistry is larger than life, just like the floral centerpieces she has become known for.

Wild flower: Year of the tiger flower arrangement

For this Supreme spread, we asked Mia to let her imagination run wild and, in the spirit of Christmas — yes, it is officially the holidaze season already — to whip up a Supreme-inspired Christmas tree. Before everybody else does their Christmas tree lightings, Supreme wanted to be the first to light up your pages with Yuletide wonder. Who says it’s ever too early?

From a simple sketch she herself made with colored pens and structural details, I saw how Mia and her Bloomwoods team constructed the Supreme tree — flown in flowers from all over the world, watered them with care, added real fruits, and gave it a new life! Stationed at the foot of the staircase, the creation was about 10 feet tall with a two-foot train of the widest assortment of flowers I have ever seen on one tree, lit up by candles and showered with love.

 After five hours of putting up the tree just for the shoot, plus another hour for the shoot with Ramon Mangila of Pix Republic, Supreme sat down with Mia Lozada for some flowery talk.

* * *

Say it with blooms, follow me at twitter.com/iamtimyap.