Behind The Fleurs: Kayla Moon
"nature and the desire to be close to it every day"
Kayla Moon, founder of XFLOS, turned her love for nature and botanical artistry into a thriving floral business. Based in Melbourne, her journey began in a Fitzroy share house at 19 and has since blossomed into a creative practice that reflects her growth and passion for bringing nature into urban spaces. We popped into her Collingwood studio to ask her a few questions.
What inspired you to become a florist?
A myriad of things culminating together, my mother first and foremost, who has an intimate relationship with flowers being an aromatherapist and healer. Additionally to that, my own relationship with nature and the desire to be close to it every day even in urban environments.
How did you come up with the name XFLOS?
One afternoon me and my ex business partner and still current bestie and I had a meeting with two cool DJS. They wanted to hire us for a booth install for a party, we said yes… and they continued to ask us how we could be found via email, socials etc… We did not even have a business name yet. (My bestie had gotten us into it late one night at a party whilst criticising their party decor in a very convincing way,) -bless her.
SO we went to cookie for a Bloody Mary and trudged through many an option until we found FLOS-being the latin origin of the word FLOWERS. X BEING x-rated as a nod to our underground/alternative lifestyle and of course a kiss.
XFLOS
X rated flowers, mwa, mwa.
Do you have a favorite flower or colour palette to work with?
It changes all the time, to be honest! I find I get addicted to a certain block of colours and species and then rinse them like a good song before moving on to the next thing. At the moment, it’s bold tropicals like heliconias and water lilies in bright, bold colours. And anything yellow!
Do you have a ritual or routine you do that helps spark creativity?
Oh yes, many. My favourite being soft music at home, cleaning my room, or cooking chicken soup, going absolutely non-verbal, and lighting incense and scented candles all over the home. In this way, I romance myself and am generally inspired to write, draw, or design.
What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced as a young florist?
Juggling running a business in my 20s while working on my mental health, trying to value myself, afford rent, and balance lifestyle—it's all a lot. I honestly am just so glad I’m a grown 30-year-old now and can cuddle my most insecure, manic young self. Floristry is not easy work; it's not a highly profitable business, you really gotta love the shit.
Kayla's songs to create to
I. Song to the Siren – This Mortal Coil
II. Mountains We Met – Christine and the Queens
III. Call for Help – Pearly Drops
IV. Dream – Ryuichi Sakamoto
V. Inheritance – Lord of the Isles, Ellen Renton
VI. Confirmation – Westerman
VII. Blue Vein – Lael Neale
VIII. High Energy – Mark Williams Lewis
IX. Angelina – Pinegrove
Listen on Spotify.
Find our HARA x XFLOS Collaboration here.
