Finding One's Place

When Sarah Lim quit her job in 2000 to set up her floral business, she had no idea what aesthetic she was going for. Neither did she know how to put a bouquet together. All she knew was that she loved flowers, disliked how bouquets in the market were designed and that something had to be done. And then she did it.

- Charmaine Tai

“I didn’t even know what I wanted,” laughs Sarah Lim. “I only knew that whatever was in the market wasn’t what I wanted”.With that in mind, Lim set up Poppy Flora Studio. There was little direction and while she couldn’t articulate it, there was a method to her madness. She didn’t try to reinvent the wheel – can you really in floral artistry? – but instead did a stellar job in making it roll a little smoother.

That was 18 years ago. Today, Poppy Flora Studio stands out with a voice of its own. Lim’s designs are quite unlike what you’re accustomed to seeing and that’s exactly the look she’s going for. The flowers aren’t arranged in an orderly fashion – you’ll find leaves swaying to their own rhythm at the side, a single floral stalk peeking from behind and a lone flower emerging from a forest of greens. It looks haphazardly put together at first glance. But it’s anything but that. Those with an eye for detail and a spring of whimsy in their step are quick to vouch for Lim’s talent.