Each month, LivRio features an interview with one of the industry’s hottest floral designers, to find out what inspires their creativity and learn about new trends. This month, we interviewed Abel Gonzalez Mencio, CFD, TMF.
A bit of background…
Abel Gonzalez Mencio, CFD, TMF, has been active in the floral industry for more than 37 years. His passion for floral engineering, prom, and Texas spirit wear designs has led him to showcase his unique brand through his design studio, Casa Granada Floral in South Texas.
A professional member of both the Texas and Louisiana State Florists Associations, Abel has been a featured designer throughout the United States and Mexico, offering his friendly, comfortable, and down-home approach to marketing and design.
Passionate about promoting quality within our industry, Abel is an Ambassador for Rio Roses and is a trendsetter who shares regularly on social media. He is a Texas Master Florist, a Certified Floral Designer, and will be inducted into the American Institute of Floral Designers (AIFD) in 2020. Abel currently holds the title as the LSFA 2019 Louisiana State Designer of the Year.
When did you start developing these amazing flower designs and where do you get your inspiration?
My floral journey began as a delivery driver for a small family floral shop, and I never looked back. Along the way I have worked with true giants in our industry, who have shown me the path to floral artistry. As the Director of Marketing and Design for Acolyte LED, I was able to immerse myself and feed my insatiable desire for knowledge.
My inspiration for floral design is that it should be a true creative outlet, one that is calming and reassuring. As florists, we are entrusted to interpret all of life’s transitions and celebrations, from birth to death, and that in itself never ceases to amaze me. Flowers truly express your most sincere emotions and contain the deepest expression of love known to man. They are Earth’s way of showing off!
In designing, I draw my inspiration from the everyday, studying trends the world over and interpreting those ideas in my own unique way. My creative passion comes from the heart: Flowers truly have a way of talking to me, and I respond by designing with them; all I have to do is listen to them speak.
What is your vision for new generations when it comes to buying habits, flower trends, and flower designs?
I foresee floral stylists becoming true ambassadors of the floral industry. I see the future as one where we openly share our commitment, skills, and communication. It’s all about growth through knowledge. I also think that while unique, high-style designs are beautiful and intricately arranged, the basic dozen roses or vase arrangements will never go out of style, since they convey a calming reassurance in a crazy world.
Is there anything you would like to share about your relationship with Rio Roses?
How does one truly describe working with the world’s finest floral products available in today’s market? Simply put: Roses! Inspiration! Opportunity!
I trust in Rio for the freshest and most beautiful roses. Their commitment to my design success through innovative new products has inspired me from the very start, and the opportunity to share my passion with others makes all the difference in the world to me.
