Hanasho

I like to pretend I have a green thumb but the reality is that plants and I should agree to never be friends, or rather I should quit trying to be a gardening goddess. But it’s small shops like Hanasho that bring my desire to garden rushing back.
His carefully curated mix between greenery (starting from $ 10 already potted) to airplants and floristry make this a dangerous experience for myself. It’s a beautiful store and truthfully, part art gallery in the way plants are expertly hung around the room. It’s a fine place for gifts for you, a friend, family or even just because you want something different to decorate your home.
Of course I didn’t leave empty handed and of course I’ve got a mental shopping list for future visits. This is a small business in West End that I sense is often forgotten by everyone except locals, but I hope it is never forgotten so much that the doors shut. This is a beautiful gem that must be explored!

Hanasho is a work of art in of itself.
I automatically assume my art gallery stride while I’m in this store.
The stencil art, pottery pieces, bamboo sculptures, the handmade stuffed toys and everything in between has an air of elegant simplicity about it. Hanasho also likes to keep it local and stocks local artist’s wares.
What most people come here for is the Ikebana (Japanese form of flower arranging). It’s an art form I have always admired. It’s not just the practice of making nice, visually pleasing floral arrangements– the ‘pieces’ are sculptural and thought provoking.
I also like that whenever you pop in to visit, the owner can be seen in the back half of his store on the floor kneeling over a new creation. It is his workshop and his gallery, per se. If he’s not working on something out the back, you’ll generally find him outside amidst the potted succulents having a cigarrette. The owner has a particular character that spills out of him into his immaculately arranged shop.
If you’re looking for something unique for a gift, I’d suggest coming here. It’s full of contemporary, often wierd and wonderful surprises.

Yet another beautiful, innovative shop in West End. It’s not uncommon to come across florists that also sell ‘gifts’, usually pretty little trinkets that you would really prefer to keep for yourself rather than give them away willy-​nilly. This one has strayed from that path a bit and combines flowers with art for superb results.
Even though the storefront claims to be a combination of florist with art, a lot of the ‘art’ they have is actually useable (not to say it’s not an artwork, just don’t confuse their meaning and imagine a thousand paintings). There are paintings, but there are also beautiful wood carvings that can be hung on walls, gorgeous handbags, trendy looking lamps and even cute crockery. A lot of the uniqueness of the place comes from the Japanese flavour of everything. It’s a truly beautiful shop, well worth a walk up the hill.

Hanasho is a place that is hard to pigeon hole.
…In fact it’s a place that you shouldn’t try too.
More than a Flower shop,
this place is a gem in West End and a relative oasis for artisans and art lovers alike.
The owner (one very enthusiastic and charming Hiroaki Eba.)
brings to this space innovative and exquisite flower arrangements
influenced by his Japanese heritage and knowledge of world cultures.
Hanasho also supports and showcases artist’s and their wares,
from screen prints and teeshirts to ceramics, sculpture and jewellery.
My favourite experience of this store was an amazing recent exhibition
simply titled «WEST END». It placed the spotlight on Westend’s landscape
created by the very locals live there.
I think this is an important venue for people to know about and to celebrate,
and if you are in the local vicinity I strongly recommend you check it out.

Hanasho, literally ‘flower art’ in Japanese, is a unique and authentic florist and gift-​store specialising in the Japanese art form ‘ikebana’. The owner is originally from Tokyo and now lives in Brisbane with his family.
What I love about the place, apart from its interesting range of options from delicate orchids, potted plants, paintings by local artists and other cameos, is the way the owner will thoughtfully arrange a bespoke item just for you if requested.
Recently I’d left purchasing a gift for my mother’s birthday until the last minute (sorry Mum!) and I went into Hanasho in the eveing (it’s open until 6.30pm weeknights). I let him know how much I had to spend and he conjured up something specifically for me on the spot, tailored to my input and price-​range. Mum loved it!