Today we’d like to introduce you to Laimis Perez.
Laimis, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Floral designing was never something I considered in my life until October 2nd, 2017 and everything made perfect sense after that. My maternal mother who I have always felt a great connection with and passed away eight days before my 2nd birthday was a silk flower designer. All my life I’ve been told by my family I look just like my grandmother Martha, spiritually and physically. I was in my last year of high school and I didn’t even know what career path I wanted to take. I did know, that whatever I ended up doing… had to be somehow related with art and expressing myself. I was working with a doctor as a receptionist while being a part-time makeup artist and going to school for Hospitality Management.
One day, a friend of mine calls me and asks me if I could help her to make some flower centerpieces for her baby’s gender reveal party. She thought I was going to do a good job because I was artsy. The day came and I did a couple of arrangements which to my surprise, came out “stunning” (I thought at the moment). I posted a picture of two of them on my Facebook page and all my friends started complimenting my work, I got a lot of feedback and an..order. Another friend asked me to do an arrangement for her, which was a nightmare to make because I had zero knowledge of mechanics.
I also posted that picture and my friend David, who at the moment was working with A. Lange & Sohne (a luxury German watch brand) called me and told me he had seen my work ad had loved it. He asked me if I could meet his manager to perhaps be their new floral designer since they had fired theirs. I just laughed when I hung up the phone and thought how in the world Am I going to be the floral designer for such a luxury brand? I literally gave zero care, I went, met with his manager and she gave me the job. I knew I had the art in me to create but I had no idea whatsoever all that required to create flower arrangements. I started watching videos on YouTube, reading articles, researching and on November 12th, 2017… I had created my first arrangement for A. Lange & Sohne.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
It has not been the smoothest road, in fact… there is still plenty of road to take. It has definitely been very sacrificing but hard work does pay off, I see it every day. I can also say that it has not been as bumpy as it can get when you are starting a business in an unknown field just because of the fact God has put the right people in my life. I have met amazing human beings, from boutique managers to vendors, to even new friends who are constantly wanting to help me without me asking and that had been very rewarding and a sign this is what God wants me to do.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business is a floral designing company that primarily specializes in providing services to other businesses, such as boutiques, hotels or restaurants. We also do private residences, editorial styling and certain events but businesses are our main focus. I believe what sets Matty’s Flower Design apart is that I believe flowers are not only supposed to look pretty, they are supposed to make you feel something, they are supposed to look like pure art and transforming flowers into artwork is my goal. My idea is to spread throughout Miami’s businesses a more chic, clean and artistic flower designing style than what currently sees in the city.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a very girly kid, I can still hear my mother telling me I was exactly like my great-aunt Caridad, who would’ve been the most feminine woman you would have met in your life. I was also very creative and could literally make anything with my hands, I have a twin sister and until this day my sister says I took all the art there was in my mother’s womb (laugh out loud). My interest in art started at a young age and so did the entrepreneurial drive. When I was 11, I created a renting customs business with my neighbor in my native country (Cuba). I was a quick learner when it came to creating art. I used to make the accessories such as head pieces, necklaces, animal ears and tails for the customs while my business partner who was about 25 years old would make the main designs since she knew how to use a sewing machine. Both my parents owned their businesses in Cuba so growing up in that environment helped me tremendously to have that hustling mentality besides art, which together makes a great team.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mattysdesign.com/
- Phone: 786-344-6041
- Email: hello@mattysdesign.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/mattysdesign
Image Credit:
Blissful Haze Photography
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Sergio Rodriguez
September 11, 2019 at 7:51 pm
Congratulations
You are the a artist!!!