Blooming on Nantucket With Hafsa Lewis
Born in England, a country reputed for its lush gardens and eternal devotion to flowers, Hafsa Lewis learned to nurture a love for beauty and the countryside from a young age.
When Hafsa was six, her mother married a native Mainer who had set roots in New Hampshire and moved her family from England across to New England. On this side of the pond, Hafsa spent much of her childhood on her grandparent's farm in Maine. Her fond memories of gathering gladioli grown by her grandmother and helping her organize them on the side of the road to sell for 50 cents a stem continue to be a source of inspiration. “Ethel’s glads’ that’s what my grandmother called them, I wish I had paid more attention back then!” Hafsa tells me, beaming from her Nantucket home.
Had Hafsa imagined one day starting her own flower business, she probably would have paid more attention. Instead, she had her sights set on other aspirations. However, years later during a difficult time, Hafsa began to crave something beautiful; not simply the kind of beauty she could see. She needed a beauty she could touch, express and fully take in. A beauty that would help her overcome her grief while bringing joy to others.
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Photo: Hafsa Lewis. Florals: Hafsa and Co.
Unsurprisingly, Hafsa turned to flowers. She founded Hafsa & Co. six years ago on Nantucket where she had washed ashore sometime before. “Here I was, in the darkest time of my life, launching a floral business on Nantucket, which is probably the worst place to be a florist!” says Hafsa, with a laugh, still not believing she found a way to make it work.
The island is known for its harsh winters and short growing season. “There are no wholesale markets or options for local florists to choose what to design with that are available 365 days a year; everything needs to arrive by boat or plane,” Hafsa explains. “I buy most of my fresh flowers from my trusted wholesaler in Providence, RI, The Floral Reserve, but it’s not like wandering through a flower farm or market,” Hafsa says of the one thing she misses most about the mainland.
But Hafsa can’t live away from the island. She heeds the call of the ocean. Nothing calms her the way water does. The ocean is where she finds her solace and strength. She needs to be on it, in it or under it. She’s an ocean girl who just happens to love playing with flowers as much as she enjoys escaping to her beloved surf spots, leaving a trace of petals everywhere she goes.
“I believe in flowers. I believe in the stories they tell and the universal language they speak. They ignite happiness, express remorse, and beautify a space, all without saying a word.”
Hafsa approaches and runs her business with surfer smoothness, repositioning herself with poise after each wipeout. As nothing wipes her and natural flowers out quite like Nantucket weather, Hafsa found a solution in the form of high-quality silk flowers. Hafsa uses these flowers to create long-lasting decorative floral installations for businesses. It has become so successful that floral marketing is now the core of her business. “The one thing I knew when I went into floristry was that I didn’t want to do weddings,” she says. “Just the thought of doing hydrangeas over and over,” she admits with a sigh, referring to the coveted flower of most Nantucket brides.
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Photo: Rebecca Love Photography. Florals: Hafsa and Co.
Each installation is different and unique, and Hafsa adjusts to the preferences of each of her clients. Though, when given carte blanche, she’ll instantly remember a beautiful deep green colour she spotted while travelling, or a flower discovered overseas and find a way of incorporating it into the design.
Among some of her most exciting projects are working with Gray Malin on a Nantucket series, assisting the Coast Guard with the Brant Point Lighthouse wreath, a time-honored island tradition started in 1997, and beautifying the island of Nantucket for their annual Christmas Stroll. Earlier this month, she also participated in the Boston edition of Fleurs de Villes.
"I believe in flowers. I believe in the stories they tell and the universal language they speak. They ignite happiness, express remorse, and beautify a space, all without saying a word. Flowers are a unifier, an anchor, and ultimately an experience.” Hafsa says.
When I ask her if she is the first person to bring floral marketing to Nantucket, Hafsa pauses before saying, “It took me a long time to finally admit it, but yes, I was the first one to bring large scale floral installations specifically for businesses and brands to the island.” A big smile lights up her face.
“You can have it all, you just can’t have it all at once.”
She leaves me with this beautiful line about dreams and eventual success, “You can have it all, you just can’t have it all at once.” Hafsa & Co. is only six years old, which means the company itself hasn’t even blossomed yet. This can only mean one thing — there is a whole lot more beauty coming our way, and we can’t wait to see what’s next.
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Photo: Emily Elisabeth Photography. Florals: Hafsa and Co.
For more on Hafsa, visit her website hafsaandco.com or follow her on Facebook and Instagram
TEXT BY FATIMA RIZZO