Located in the heart of the arts district in Porto, Otília Flowers is one of those shops that you can’t just pass by and not get in. It is far from the typical flower shop and Inês is far from the typical florist. We stopped by a few weeks ago and talked to Inês about owning a business, prioritising sustainability at all costs, and protecting your voice and creative identity even when the world seems to be going in a different direction.

What inspired you to start Otília Flowers?

I wanted to be more connected to the land. And to try to make people happy. The awareness that flowers have an extremely positive impact in our lives and well-being motivated me immensely, their ability to take us to a good place. Flowers are the soul in an empty space and they never allow us to feel lonely.

Also, working in full with my own hands and creating arrangements. 

What was the hardest thing you learned throughout your creative journey?

When I started the project I immediately came across the flower industry; I had to deal with the amount of water, plastic and energy involved in the process, and for a year all I did was research. I realised it is impossible to find the perfect solution for everything, but a good balance is achievable. We only work with local producers, we buy seasonal and countryside flowers only, we reuse water, we compost the waste and we only use 100% vegetable floral foams to keep flowers hydrated for deliveries.

What is your favourite part of running a business?

This business, if you can call it that, gives me the possibility to be permanently connected to beauty. And people’s joy when they visit us, those things are what keeps this project going.