For Moko, a botanical and object design studio, flowers ask us to pause and notice what is in front of us in a world that moves so quickly
Flowers speak of love in ways words cannot—offering thought, remembrance, and quiet devotion. With Moko, a botanical and object design studio, each arrangement is a story told in petals and stems, sharing emotions in the most tangible form.
This is an exploration of how flowers become vessels of meaning. Through a conversation with Sam and Amanda Soliven, the sisters beyond Moko, we come to know how nature’s fleeting beauty is transformed into something lasting—an offering, a sentiment, a love letter written in bloom.
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The language of flowers
Flowers go beyond decor. Across time and cultures, they have marked the most profound moments of human connection—expressing what words often cannot. For Sam and Amanda, flowers have always been interwoven with life’s quiet yet meaningful rituals.
“Flowers have a way of weaving themselves into our lives, you know? Celebrations, everyday rituals, even goodbyes. And for us, shaping those moments with our hands feels like continuing the stories we’ve always known,” Sam reflects.
This philosophy is at the heart of Moko: creating floral arrangements that tell stories, evoke emotion, and hold lasting meaning.
Stories held within bloom
Flowers have long been a language of their own. The Victorians assigned each bloom a specific meaning. But even before then, different cultures had their own floral symbolism. Red roses for love, white lilies for remembrance, forget-me-nots for enduring affection. Yet today, the meaning of flowers has expanded beyond fixed definitions—it is shaped by the giver, the receiver, and the moment they share.
“Flowers exist in the in-between: giving form to the unspoken and moving with our emotions rather than just reflecting them,” Amanda explains. “They mark love, loss, celebration, remembrance, and eventually become part of the connections we build with others. The kind that resurfaces unexpectedly, years later, when a scent, a color, or a certain light reminds you of that feeling, that day, that person.”
At Moko, selecting blooms is an act of storytelling. When guiding clients, Sam and Amanda encourage an instinctual, deeply personal approach. “We always start with the idea of using what’s available and what’s right in front of us locally,” Sam shares. “There’s something raw about it. The supply is never guaranteed, and sometimes we get our hands on something rare that won’t come around again for ages. It’s the unpredictability of working with local florals, mixed with the unique textures and colors, that gives each arrangement its own story.”
Each flower is chosen with intention. For Amanda, anthuriums have a special place in her heart. “They’ve always felt like they had more to give, even when no one else seemed to see it,” she says. “Back when we started, they were mostly white, stiff, and kind of detached from everything else. But we started playing with them, bringing them into spaces where they weren’t expected, and giving them color, form, and freedom.”
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Moko’s approach: Crafting sentiments through stems
Floral arrangements are compositions of color, texture, and scent that evoke feeling. At Moko, each arrangement begins with a clear direction: an idea, a mood, or even a single flower that acts as an anchor. From there, it’s a process of layering, playing with shape, weight, and contrast until everything falls into place.
“Flowers always seem to show you who they are before you even decide what to do with them,” Sam muses. “Their form, their color—it’s like they already have a voice, and it’s up to us to listen.”
Beyond aesthetics, the longevity of an arrangement is also considered. “We always think about how long the flowers will last because we want the receiver to enjoy them a little longer,” Sam says. “Some flowers are just short-lived, and that’s okay. That’s why we’re always experimenting—figuring out which botanicals will keep their beauty and presence longer, so that the experience lasts.”
For Moko, piecing an arrangement together is about honesty. Some arrangements are deeply personal. Amanda recalls creating one for a funeral: “You’d expect something more conventional, an all-white ensemble. Instead, they chose something bold, in punchy colors, similar to an arrangement we had made for their mother on Mother’s Day that same year. Sometimes, honoring someone means remembering them as they truly were. Not in absence, but in the fullness of their life. Alive in color, in memory, in the things they loved.”
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The ritual of gifting flowers
Giving flowers is an ancient ritual, yet its significance has only deepened in a fast-moving world. “Flowers operate in their own rhythm, and they do so without urgency and unbothered by expectations,” Amanda notes. “In a time that constantly asks for more—for permanence, for productivity—they tell us that some things are enough simply because they are.”
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The act of giving flowers is a way of saying, “I thought of you.” Whether for a birthday, a celebration, or just an ordinary day, a floral arrangement becomes a memory—a piece of a love story, a quiet comfort, a symbol of presence even in absence. “Each flower we choose is intentional, and the thing about that is, it can never be replicated,” Amanda says. “That’s what makes receiving them so special—it’s not just about the flower itself, but the thought and timing behind it.”
For Sam, witnessing the evolution of a longtime customer’s flower orders has been a profound experience. “They started with simple arrangements, but recently, they’ve become much more personal and intentional. It’s such a joy to be part of those moments, witnessing how flowers can reflect these small milestones and big emotions in someone’s life. It’s like we get to be there for the full journey, and that’s something special.”
Love in full bloom
Flowers, like love, are fleeting and profound. In their impermanence, they teach us about presence, about cherishing the beauty before us.
“They show us that love, memory, and presence exist in the ephemeral,” Sam reflects. “Love is felt in the giving, memory is held in the gesture, and presence is required to truly appreciate them while they’re here. In a world that moves so quickly, they ask us to pause and to notice what is in front of us before it’s gone.”
Moko’s arrangements are reminders of the love we give and receive in all its forms.
And if flowers could teach us one thing about love? Amanda says it best: “I know this sounds corny, but I guess it would be the steady act of showing up. A flower isn’t the same as it was when it first bloomed, and neither is love. It grows, it shifts, it changes. But if we show up, day after day, nurturing it through every stage, things will find their way to grow—often in forms we never anticipated.”
Special thanks to Sarah de Veyra-Buyco of Navitas Haus
