Brave Blooms - Melbourne Design Week
This story is presented by Brave Blooms.
Can we make sustainable and ethical design choices that bring us back into harmony with nature?
In 2021, Melbourne Design Week explores the theme ‘design the world you want’ where designers demonstrate how they can collaborate to create a better and healthier future for the planet.
One event that has caught our eye is Brave Blooms - a holistic, immersive, futuristic and beautiful showcase of over 25 designers and artisans. The exhibition responds to the current global crisis, confronting a variety of issues including global warming, deforestation and rising energy costs.
Brave Blooms highlights how design can help us reconnect with nature. The interior styled showcase will cover a range of themes including holistic, ethical and sustainable design; conscious living; and mindfulness.
We caught up with event curator, Tracy Quertier, to discuss how this event came to be and what she hopes people leave with.
Brave Blooms signifies the collaboration of nature; the flower doesn’t bloom without the sun, soil, water and the bee that pollinates. What does curating Brave Blooms mean to you?
The Brave Blooms Project and the launch of Quertier – Holistic Interiors has been inspired by a number of things. I have a wide range of experience across marketing, curating, interiors, floristry and textiles.
But my personal concern for the current global climate crisis and the inhumane treatment of animals has led to a strong calling to lead a more sustainable, ethical, compassionate and conscious lifestyle.
All these factors have been the motivation to curate this event.
How does your showcase embody this message? What story are you trying to tell?
There are two core messages for this showcase.
Firstly, Brave Blooms aims to promote the concept of Holistic Design, a movement that promotes connecting more with nature. In times where humans lived closer to nature, we operated within the worlds’ natural rhythms. Living in this way creates harmony between mind and spirit, cultivating a deeper respect for the natural world around us.
Secondly, Holistic Design is about assuming responsibility and taking steps towards making conscious decisions that consider the planet, animals and people. This is realised in the concept of Brave Blooms; that we can all bloom or come into alignment with our truth and life purpose.
This event seeks to showcase local Melbourne designers and artisans who have taken this step through their passion and talent.
What are you hoping Melbourne Design Week attendees take away from this event?
I hope that they will leave with a greater understanding about the concept of holistic design and be inspired to incorporate these principles in their own spaces. I also hope attendees will be inspired to support local designers and artisans that embody these principles.
By supporting our locals with kindness and generosity, we can create a thriving community – an ecosystem of love and community that provides support, especially during times of need like the COVID19 Pandemic.
Do you remain hopeful for our planet's future?
The reality is that a vast part of the modern world has lost respect for Mother Nature. Instead, we are taking all that we can, leading to deforestation, mass extinction and depleted energy sources. Now, we are nearing a tipping point.
I do believe that we have time to turn the situation around, but only if we act now and make more conscious decisions regarding our environment.
"Living in this way creates harmony between mind and spirit, cultivating a deeper respect for the natural world around us."
"By creating a space tuned to your soul, goals and nature – you can set yourself up for success."
How would you encourage people to make more sustainable, ethical and healthy design choices?
I would encourage them to use Holistic Design principles to consciously curate their surroundings. This can include choosing specific items of furniture that sing to your soul, choosing the right colours, opting for natural materials and sourcing a mix of products that are mostly sustainable and cruelty-free. These could be from local makers or quality upcycled pieces.
By creating a space tuned to your soul, goals and nature – you can set yourself up for success.