“At The Grey Green, we wish to capture the unique essence of the city, its stories, its history, its heartfelt moments and incorporate it into our products so that we can preserve it and allow our customers to experience it fully.”
Maggie Mak
Co-founder of The Grey Green
Our Urban Explorer
Could you please introduce yourself to our guests?
Hi! I am Maggie Mak, a floral artist and the co-founder of The Grey Green, a floral design company that produces one-of-a-kind floral arrangements and specialises in teaching floral design to the general public through various workshops and events.
How did you start The Grey Green?
The Grey Green sprung to life by chance actually! When I first met my now-husband, who is from Macau originally, I took him to the flower market in Hong Kong, which he had never been to. He was so inspired by how beautiful it was that he decided to open up his own flower shop in Macau. Through The Grey Green, we have worked with many other homegrown brands to capture the essence of the city so that our customers can experience it through our products. As the business started to grow, I gradually became more and more involved. When the pandemic hit, we were in Hong Kong, and it was difficult for us to go back to Macau, so we decided to continue the brand here!
Can you tell us what your fascination is with floristry?
I have always been fascinated by floral design! With my background in branding and design, I was able to make use of my skills in floral design and create DIY pieces that I enjoyed making. I take inspiration from Japanese and Chinese floral design and through my learnings, I am happy to share my passion with others.
Why and when did you decide to go into this field?
I am originally a brand designer, helping to reinvigorate old brands and make them new again through logo design, packaging, etc. As The Grey Green business started to take a life of its own, it required a lot of time and dedication. I also got pregnant with twins at the time, so I decided to quit my full-time job completely to pursue this passion!
What do you love most about your job?
There are so many aspects that I love about this job, but the thing I love most is the workshops. I get to work collaboratively with our customers, some of whom are our VIPs who return every year to support our classes. It brings me immense joy to see them continue pursuing their passion and challenging their floral design skills.
What does a day in the life of Maggie look like?
My day is very hectic, to say the least! I wake up at 6AM every morning to work on the admin side of the business and reply to emails. At 8AM, the twins generally wake up, so I dedicate all my time to them till noon. Then, I will head into the office to work or host various workshops throughout the day. We are in such a busy time of year because of Christmas and Chinese New Year, so I will work till 1AM or 2AM sometimes!
What does “Urban Explorer” mean to you and how do you think you fit into this term?
To me, the term urban explorer is all about exploring every detail of the city and preserving it for future generations. At The Grey Green, we wish to capture the unique essence of the city, its stories, its history, and its heartfelt moments and incorporate it into our products so that we can preserve it and allow our customers to experience it fully.
A Balance of Greys and Greens
How did the name The Grey Green come about?
The name was actually derived from its Chinese meaning! In a concrete jungle like Hong Kong, we wish to infuse a bit of green and vibrancy into the city. This idea is also reflected in the overall aesthetic of our floral arrangements – minimalistic, muted, and timeless.
Where do you source your materials from?
When we first started The Grey Green, we had our own piece of land to grow our wildflowers, weeds, and foliage. Nowadays, we source a lot of our materials from Taiwan, which fosters a huge community of floral designers and shops.
Where does your inspiration for each floral design come from?
For me, I get hugely inspired by my surroundings – whether it be going to an art museum and being inspired by an art sculpture or finding inspiration in a unique material or flower that I could use.
What advice would you give to the next generation of female founders looking to set up their own brands?
Whenever you start a business or launch a brand, patience is key. A business is like a relationship – it takes time to grow, and you need to put a lot of time and effort into building the business and nurturing relationships with your customers. There will be many challenges that arise in the process, but you should never give up and keep believing in yourself.
As the year comes to an end, do you have any goals or dreams for The Grey Green in 2024?
Yes! One of my biggest dreams for The Grey Green – not just this year but for the future – is to work with the local farmers in Hong Kong and find a piece of land where we can grow our own flowers and foliage.
Exploring The City
What do you find inspiration for your travels?
My travel inspiration comes from magazines like Monocle. I am a fan of their travel guides and I adore their illustrations! Like most people, I also find inspiration on Instagram. Whenever I see a captivating photo or video of a cool destination, I instantly want to book my next flight!
What other destinations are on your bucket list?
Iceland is definitely at the top of my list! I am so fascinated by its geographical location and its snowy landscapes. This was the one place I wanted to visit before having kids but never got the chance to do so. Hence, this is certainly on my list. I have been to Norway, but I would love to go again because of the gorgeous rivers and mountains. As you can see, I am a huge fan of the natural landscapes!
In 3 words, how would you describe Hong Kong?
Decent, Elegant, Creative