About us
Unique flowers like your unique personality
Mission
Transform Lives
At SLAK Flowers, we are committed to making a real difference in the lives of people experiencing homelessness. Our mission is to provide not just employment, but also dignity, self-worth, and the opportunity to transform lives through meaningful work.
Break the Cycle
With around 100,000+ people in Australia alone counted as without homes, this is a large part of our communities we are failing. Why? We need to move beyond the stereotypes and statistics. Will you join us?
Empowerment
We aren’t a charity, because we believe that self-worth and dignity are essential parts of a successful journey. Start your journey with us by viewing our range of flowers here.
Meet our team
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Simla Sooboodoo – Our Founder and CEO
Warning: If you peek at my LinkedIn or resume, be prepared for some serious head-scratching. I’m basically a Jill of all trades, just with more puns.
SLAK Flowers wouldn’t exist in the same way as it does today if not for founder Simla Sooboodoo, a woman of wonders. Beginning on the small island country of Mauritius, she faced her own fair share of childhood hardship, however immigrating to Australia gave her the chance to find her own space and truly bloom. In 2007, Sim was found in a coma, and after immense treatment was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm. During this tragic event, Sim was given only a 10% chance of survival, and with the odds so low it was nothing short of a miracle that she both survived and retained her memory.
Given this second chance, Sim changed her trajectory. Having her long held views on life challenged from this life-altering event, her focus shifted to travel, culture, and a desire to explore the world. Sim founded Hands On Journeys, a tourism company that prioritised cultural immersion and the social impacts of their clients. She brought people from all around Australia (and beyond) to explore the world and give back to the very communities and cultures they visit.
In 2019 Sim produced the award-winning documentary, Dehlight, that highlights the women in the slums of Delhi. The documentary tackles difficult topics such as poverty and child labour. In conjunction, it illuminates women supporting women, empowering them with new skills, education, and support through fashion and design, taking us all the way from the slums of Delhi to the runways of New York city. Producing this documentary solidified Sim’s love of filmmaking, and she has held that love with her to this day.
Unfortunately, with the Covid-19 pandemic in full force, in 2020 Sim’s blossoming branches in film and travel were suddenly halted, and she had to change her focus once more. Forced to stay at home, she wondered what could be done to help her home city of Sydney. That’s where the budding idea of SLAK Flowers truly bloomed.
With this floristry business, Simla focused on uplifting and working with women facing homelessness and poverty. SLAK Flowers was created for the purpose of providing these women in unfortunate circumstances with support, training, and employment opportunities in a world that often doesn’t look twice. Sim’s goal was to help these women find their footing and provide stability, so that they may reforge their own paths and find their way in the world on their own terms.
SLAK Flowers has travelled all the way around the east coast of Australia since its founding in 2021, and even dipped toes into international travel. We’ve worked with clients big and small, bringing floral dreams to life wherever we can. Whether it’s working with Australian Fashion Week, or making bridal bouquets for someone’s dream day, none of this would be possible without Simla. Her imaginative and powerful mind drives us to create magic, and without her deep love for humanity as it is, SLAK Flowers wouldn’t be the incredible place it is today.
Tadgh – Our CCO
‘Arf arf, woof. Woof woof woof bark arf. Bark bark bark, honk shoo, mimimimi, bark. Arf arf boof’
Our ever-faithful Chief Cuddles Officer, Tadgh has been with SLAK since early 2024, and has changed our lives for the better. Tadgh works closely with our team, determined to helping them through tough challenges by motivating and maintaining the morale of each person. Tadgh is very popular with our clients, well-loved by all who have the pleasure to meet him, and an ever-joyful presence in our studio. From strangers off the street, to our most valued clients, he is the perfect advisor in any circumstance and always has just the right thing to say. With wisdom beyond his years, he is a charming soul that brightens each room he enters and a true keystone of our team.
Victoria – Our head florist
‘Not the best, not the worst, but I’m award winning’
Victoria joined SLAK in 2022 as a fresh-faced florist and has steadily worked her way up to be the primary Head Florist. She is ambitious, hardworking and passionately creative. In her first year at SLAK, she helped in creating the ‘Best In Show’ award winning floral installation for the Fleurs de Villes showcase. Victoria has studied at Pearsons School of Floristry, and has also achieved her Diploma in Technical Theatre Design and a Certificate 3 in Applied Fashion. She is a hardworking and dedicated artist, with a perfectionist eye for detail in every project she takes on. As an invaluable asset to the team, Victoria is involved in every part of the creative process, from concept to execution, and is a key player in making sure each SLAK project turns out perfectly.
Amelie – Our Creative Writer
‘If you need a creative writer, let me know. Otherwise, I’m pretty good at the whole concept design thing as well. The floristry thing is a bonus’
Amélie is our in-house designer, who helps our clients conceptualise and visualise their event’s florals to reach a creative, ideal outcome. She has been illustrating for 9 years, and is incredibly artistically motivated, having an acute eye for detail and aesthetics. Amelie was trained in floristry by SLAK, and has assisted in many large scale events since joining in 2023. She has also studied a Certificate 3 in Fashion Design, and a Certificate 3 in Makeup. She is SLAK’s primary floral designer, and is closely concerned with each part of the artistic process, aiming to make each installation special.
Denise – Our Talented Florist
Denise is SLAK’s talented senior florist, being with us from the start in early 2021. She is a master with flowers, and her creativity and enthusiastic approach to each project is valued deeply by our team. Denise has studied at Pearsons School of Floristry and has a background in advertising, meaning she deeply understands the nuances of working with each individual client to deliver the perfect floral experience. She is a perfectionist in florals, and always guarantees a premium delivery with each project she tackles. Denise is an imaginative, flexible florist, who’s not afraid to get her hands dirty to make sure each design sparkles.
Christian – Our Fractional CMO
I move through life with the precision of a well-timed volley, the curiosity of a philosopher, and the occasional recklessness of a snowboarder who probably should’ve checked the landing before jumping. It’s a chaotic, creative, deeply thoughtful ride—and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Throughout his career, Christian has worked in service marketing, communications, and management for both large and small businesses, as well as for government agencies. Since the year 2020, Christian has honed his abilities by focusing on the first social enterprise-based florist in Sydney. He oversaw marketing efforts from the company’s inception through its rapid expansion. Christian serves as the fractional chief marketing officer for SLAK Flower. Christian is a dedicated family man and sports fan when he’s not working for the public good.
