From Cambodia to Flor Saigon: A Private Floral Design Journey

florxinchao
Jul 27
2 min read

Nabi from Cambodia learning garden-style bouquet design during a private flower workshop at Flor Saigon.

People travel to Flor Saigon for different reasons. Some come to build a career in floristry, while others simply want to deepen their understanding of flowers through thoughtful, one-on-one learning. Nabi travelled from Cambodia with a quiet curiosity and an open mind, hoping to experience a different approach to floral design.

Her private workshop explored more than a single bouquet. Together, we looked at the differences between Garden-Style Bouquet Design and Korean Bouquet Design, two design languages that may appear similar at first glance, yet are guided by very different principles.

Young woman in a white apron arranges a colorful bouquet of daisies and pink flowers at a table indoors.

Garden-style bouquets embrace movement, seasonality and organic asymmetry, allowing every stem to retain its individual character. Korean bouquet design, by contrast, is recognised for its refined silhouette, balanced proportions and quiet elegance. Rather than treating them as separate approaches, we explored how the strengths of both styles could come together within a single bouquet.

Throughout the session, Nabi experimented with different flower combinations, proportions and mechanics while gradually developing a bouquet that balanced natural movement with thoughtful structure. More importantly, she learned how to make intentional design decisions instead of simply recreating a reference.

Woman in white arranging a large pastel bouquet of roses and daisies by a window with green houseplants.

Wrapping became another important part of the workshop. Using a variety of papers, textures and finishing techniques, we explored how bouquet wrapping can enhance the overall design rather than simply protecting the flowers. Every material creates a different visual rhythm, transforming the final presentation without changing the bouquet itself.

Like every private workshop at Flor Saigon, the session was personally led by Founder and Art Director Lê An Nhi. Beyond technique, the focus was on developing observation, design thinking and the confidence to discover one's own creative voice.

Florist in white apron holding a large pastel bouquet of roses, daisies and greenery in a cozy flower shop.

After class, the learning continued outside the studio. We shared bánh căn together at Bà Chiểu Market, one of Saigon's beloved local dishes. Conversations naturally shifted between flowers, travel and everyday life, reminding us that creative journeys are often shaped just as much by the places we experience as by the lessons we learn.

Looking back, the workshop was never simply about creating a bouquet. It was about discovering different design languages, understanding the intention behind each one and finding the confidence to combine them into something uniquely personal.