Tanya Sarmias must love flowers, especially since the Floral Designer and Stylist owns Must Love Flowers. Her business is adding colour in the form of flowers to any event.
“It’s a magical thing when passion and work collide!”
Tanya Sarmias is a highly sought after Floral Designer and Stylist, who adds colour everywhere she goes.
Having grown up in Newcastle, a small town in northern KwaZulu-Natal, Tanya jumped at the opportunity to broaden her horizons and moved to Potchefstroom to attend the North-West University, where she obtained an honour’s degree in Corporate Communication. “From there on out, the world was my oyster,” Tanya said.
She spent some time travelling, and worked in a corporate space before the creative life came calling. Tanya moved to Jeffrey’s Bay in the process, before eventually settling in Bloemfontein three years ago.
“I was raised by incredible parents,” she explained. “My dad left a big corporate firm to start his own business, teaching me from an early age that with hard work even the most difficult things are possible.” Her mom was a self-taught landscaper, and would often take Tanya and her sister on ‘nursery runs’.
“Weekends were spent working and playing in the garden, not knowing that my grandmother talking to me through all the flowers in her garden was my actual introduction to my career, floristry.”
Speaking on how she got in the industry, the floral stylist explained: “I have a friend, Celicia, who is pure gold. She saw the spark in my eyes each time I spoke about or worked with flowers. She made me see that my passion for flowers and design can indeed be turned into a career.”
Tanya’s first job was no gentle introduction to the industry. An almost 200 guest wedding that leaves her with sweaty palms to this day. She does, however, remain thankful to Este and Duanne for giving her the opportunity to showcase her talents.
“They had two giant Gypsophila balls of approximately 40cm in diameter per table including 3 smaller arrangements that consisted of Chrysanthemums and Anemones,” Tanya described. “Back then the Anemones were something we could not source locally, so of course I handmade them from tissue paper.
“Handing Este her bouquet was also the moment my career choice was confirmed with an overwhelming feeling of joy, it’s a magical thing when passion and work collide!”
After her mind was made up, Tanya started her floral business in phases. At first, she did floral design and styling, before opening a floral studio in 2015. “That exceeded all my expectations,” she said. “I was so proud of the space I was able to create and work in.”
It was during this time that she also learned her most valuable business lessons, and also to not give up on her dreams. Her studio closed in 2019 but Tanya’s business went on.
Her passion and determination shone through, as she continued to overcome several obstacles along the way. “People are under the impression that flowers last a single day and that they are not worth the money,” she explained, “I worked incredibly hard to sway people’s opinion on that by providing flowers and a service of the absolute best quality.”
In doing so, Tanya has been able to showcase her magnificent work, including on the TV programme Pasella. This is something she describes as “an almost unreal experience”. She also recalls a time she was able to work alongside the world-renowned designer and planner, Otto de Jager.
For Tanya, inspiration is all around her. She is constantly looking around her, at her surroundings, and drawing creative energy from it. “Trends just add to the fun, inviting one to apply your specific style to a current trend and making it my own,” she said.
As a firm believer in the ‘to-do list’, Tanya stays on top of what needs to be done, and prioritises her critical deadlines, stating that she has become more aware of the time she has available in a day since becoming a mother.
While she continues to push herself, Tanya also says: “Let’s be honest, being positive 24/7 is close to impossible, at least for me – so I allow myself a moment of panic, breath, pray and dance it out.”
“Meghan Trainor wasn’t lying when she said ‘Better when I am dancing’,” she continued. “The same applies for challenging times. I do, however, just love a busy season, orchestrated, well-organised chaos is exhilarating!”
Away from work, she enjoys adventuring with her family, staying active, and even baking. She lives by the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: “Rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.”
Tanya is excited for what the future holds, and aspires to remain ambitious and enthusiastic, ensuring that her and her family’s dreams continue to blossom and bloom.
Text: Warren Hawkins. Photographs: Gypseenia Lion
