Founded by Venezuelan-born designer Heidi Bischoff in 2023, Flor Studio is devoted to preserving the art of handicraft textiles, creating thoughtful, season-less, and versatile pieces that tell a global story. Every piece uses long-lasting natural fibers, honoring age-old techniques that make sure no two pieces are ever exactly alike.

 

What was the inspiration behind creating Flor Studio? 

I’ve been designing and developing clothing for over a decade, always behind the scenes and under someone else’s label. Over time, the pace and pressures of the traditional fashion cycle began to feel draining, and I realized I was ready to step out on my own. With Flor Studio, I wanted to create something personal –– a tribute to my Latin heritage and a way to collaborate with communities around the world who inspire me.

 

At the brand’s core, there seems to be a foundational love & respect for materials. How would you describe your relationship to textiles? 

Through my research and travels, I’ve developed a deep respect for the cultural histories tied to craft. At Flor Studio, every piece is made from natural fibers –– and in many ways, follows a natural, intentional process. I’m especially drawn to techniques like handweaving, different dyeing methods, embroidery, and handknits. These techniques tell generational stories, and I’m honored that I get to learn a little bit of that history.

 

The making also seems deeply intentional. 

One of the core values of Flor Studio is craft preservation: 

"How can we create a system where these beautiful traditions continue to thrive for generations to come?"

The Kia Bag is a collaboration with the Boras women in the Peruvian Amazon - a community that sustainably and regeneratively harvests chambira, a native palm. Sourcing the fiber is a delicate and laborious process, where the leaves must be carefully extracted, dried in the sun (timed precisely around Amazonian rain), hand-spun with zero machinery, and then naturally dyed. After all of that, the bag is finally knitted using an ancestral single-needle technique.

It’s a lengthy, detailed process –– and that’s exactly what makes it special. I could have shipped the fiber to Lima and had it crocheted quickly and cheaper, but that would go against everything Flor Studio stands for. My goal is to honor these traditions by paying a fair wage, understanding their timeline, and hopefully sell these products and provide people with consistent work. With so much already in the world, I don’t want to create more stuff –– I want to create things with purpose.

 

Can you share more with us about how the brand approaches production?

Production – especially small-batch, handmade production – is definitely one of the most challenging parts of what we do. Most systems are designed to prioritize large-scale manufacturing, so working with artisan communities requires a lot of planning, flexibility, and patience.

The chambira for the Kia Bag has to be harvested at just the right time during the dry season — so our production schedule is built around the rhythms of the community and the land. It’s slow, it’s often delayed, and yes, there can be quality variations. But that’s part of the beauty and reality of working in this way. I’m committed to working with these communities – not just for the end product, but for the process itself.

 

Tell us about your design process – Do you start with a sketch? A concept? Is it spurred by the discovery of a textile or a technique?

One of my very first designs was the Sarita Top. I had come across a vintage swirl crochet swatch that felt retro and totally unique. I spent a few months in Lima working closely with knitters to bring the idea to life. I’m always in awe of their ability to interpret and transform my ideas into real, tangible pieces.

 

My process often begins with a vintage textile, a swatch, or a traditional technique that sparks inspiration. From there, I move into sampling — swatch development can take a few weeks with a lot of back and forth with the factories. Once a swatch feels right, I start sketching and exploring color combinations. When the design comes together, I move on to creating the tech packs.

I’m usually excited about too many ideas at once, so the real challenge is narrowing things down - I am terrible at editing!

 

Are you working on anything new that you are particularly excited about?

I’ve been collaborating with a woodworker in Lima to design small stools and wooden home pieces that incorporate crochet. I’m also working on a collection of crochet pillows that go back to the collection. It’s been exciting to step outside of apparel and start building a more complete design world for Flor Studio –– one that explores craft in different forms.

Next season, I’m especially excited about a filet hand crochet group featuring scattered floral motifs that almost mimic lace. It’s delicate, textured, and has a relaxed, beachy look to it. I’m really drawn to mixing color, pattern, and texture — and finding new ways to bring that to life.

 

 

What’s one thing you’d want our community to know about your work? 

Behind every Flor Studio piece is a real artisan, a real community, and a genuine effort to support traditional craft in today’s modern world. Choosing to buy less, but with more intention, is a powerful way to keep these traditions alive –– take care of your items, wear them, cherish them, and hopefully pass them down to a friend or family member so they get another life.

 

Interview by Geneviève Beaudoin

Photographs courtesy of Flor Studio

Explore Flor Studio's Collection at JUDITH