It is hard not to be inspired by flowers. They are among the most beautiful masterpieces created by nature. With their vibrant colors and spellbinding scents, they can make any occasion special no matter how joyful or sad they may be. They are among the ultimate symbols of love, femininity, and growth. Through the years, artists and designers have looked at them for inspiration for their work. For Style Weekend’s May 4, 2024 issue, we are featuring Filipino creatives from different fields—Tin Bejar, Soleil Ignacio, and Adrienne Charuel—who have immortalized the charms of blooms and other botanicals through their works, whether they are on paper, textile, or in a digital canvas.
Taking a career in the creative field was a natural step for Soleil Ignacio. Like other artists, her childhood days were filled with memories of sketching images on paper. Her muses then were her favorite characters, mostly female like Japanese manga heroine Sailor Moon and every girl’s favorite Barbie. But through time, her style has evolved and her subjects now mirror the women of today only they are adorned with all sorts of blooms.
“My all-time favorites would be women and nature. I love drawing anything floral, I find it very comforting to do,” Soleil told Style Weekend. “I like them because of their variations. It is not just one look. I can experiment with flowers and it is nice to look at them… I always get surprised.”
Her love for flowers can be traced back to her mother Evangeline, an owner of a flower shop. Soleil’s early exposure to the flower business has given her knowledge about diverse floras. Her favorites include the lisianthus and the bell flowers. With her mom’s support, Soliel honed her skills by studying visual communications at the University of the Philippines-Fine Arts. Now, working as an illustrator and designer, she was able to collaborate and partner with numerous brands. Her recent ones were featured by brands Forever21, Crocs, and Samsung.
“I love that brands now are working with more illustrators and designers unlike before when it’s been always the celebrities,” the 34-year-old artist said. “They recognized that there are many talents in the Philippines. Whenever I work with brands, it should always be a partnership. They tell me what they want to achieve with the campaign, and I also have to add my own signature to it.”
Eventually, her love for florals moved from her digital canvas to a physical space. With the help of her mom and sister, Soliel added a cafe element to their flower shop in Mandaluyong City. First dubbed the Flower Ranch Cafe, it was inspired by her and her mom’s trip to South Korea after discovering several small and quaint coffee shops. Since 2019, the humble cafe has been a go-to for anyone looking for a quick caffeine fix with a charming floral experience. Not only can they get unique brewed drinks courtesy of Soleil’s sister, Woja, but they can also create bouquets using the blooms on display at the store. Apart from getting inspired by their travel, the birth of the cafe also came to mind after her mom went through a course in interior design studies.
“That’s also the time na my mom finished her interior design studies,” Soleil recalled. “She became very interested in designing so we designed a coffee shop element for our flower shop. Thank God we survived the pandemic. It’s been fun and a nice challenge working with your mother. A lot of people really like the cafe, even if it is small. So we want things to expand to accommodate more people.”
In August of 2023, Soleil and her mom found the perfect space to establish the second location of their floral cafe. Located within Poblacion, Makati, Saglit by Flower Ranch Cafe offers the same chill vibe and floral elements as seen in the Mandaluyong City store. with new brews exclusive to the store. Its bestseller also plays with the botanical theme—the Lavander Espresso Tonic.
“I want them to feel like in a house in the province or like they are in the house of their childhood friend—just cozy and quiet,” Soleil explained. “When they are here, they take it slow, they read a book. It is a rest from the business of Poblacion and Makati City. I want them to feel relaxed.”
Working as a self-employed illustrator, designer, and entrepreneur for over 10 years, Soleil understands how hard it is for creatives to carve their name in the industry and make a sustainable livelihood out of their craft. But what they shouldn’t be afraid of doing is to embrace growth and change and never fail to find the simple joys in life, whether they come from a good cup of coffee, an inspiring artwork, or a tiny bud ready to bloom.
“If you ask me during pre-pandemic times, I just want to see my works in all the major brands,” Soleil said. “Now, I just want to create things that would make me happy. Create things that I will be happy and proud of.”
Photography by Ariana Maralit
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