DESIGN SPEAK FLOWER POWER

By Madeleine Ackerburg

Nothing says the ’60s and ’70s better than eclectic design and vibrant self-expression, which is exactly what customers find while scrolling through MindFlowers, a St. Louis-based online boutique owned and operated by Olivia Cupp and her partner, Jairo Villa.

The couple first began creating their handmade décor and accessories during Cupp’s senior year of college and moved to Los Angeles with the plan to expand their joint business. They lived there for 2½ years, operating out of their apartment and selling products through Etsy, when the pandemic hit and forced them to change their plans. “We knew we had to leave and we realized we should move to St. Louis, where I’m from,” Cupp says. “St. Louis has had a lot of growth and there’s a lot of potential here. I thought I’d rather be a part of building a community here than in L.A., where it’s competitive and hard to make an impact.”

Cupp and Villa relocated to St. Louis and eventually secured a studio space, which is when MindFlowers really began to take off. At first, the boutique mostly sold handmade acrylic jewelry and standout accessories, such as the mind’s eye stud earrings or daisy necklaces customers can still score on the MindFlowers website. Eventually, the couple dipped their toes into home décor by launching unique and colorful light switch covers, daisythemed coasters and psychedelic wall mirrors, all of which were an instant success.

It’s hard not to fall in love with MindFlowers and even harder to choose just one product. Every item embodies freedom and total selfexpression, and though the ’60s and ’70s were a major inspiration behind Cupp’s earlier designs, MindFlowers’ aesthetic has since evolved to encompass dozens of fun, customizable products that can vibe with anyone’s personal style. “My main focus is creating things that are unique and that you didn’t necessarily know you needed until you saw it,” Cupp says. “We want people to feel connected, which is partially why we make customizable products that can fit a range of aesthetics, whether your design inspiration is midcentury modern or funky eclectic.”

Under the MindFlowers home décor section, customers can find collections such as Retro Vibes, Art Deco and On Our Mind, featuring everything from retro-themed light switch covers to boldpatterned wall art, groovy disco mushrooms and Magic 8 Ball coasters. On the accessories side of things, an abundance of unique pieces adds flair and funk to anyone’s wardrobe. Customers can choose from jewelry such as statement earrings in fun patterns like cherries and dangling hearts, necklaces, chokers, hair clips and much more – all of which embrace individualism and personal creativity. “The main idea behind MindFlowers was to ‘plant your seeds and let your mind flower,’ – so finding your core values and letting them shape who you are,” Cupp explains. “Our whole goal is owning your self-expression and having the confidence to wear what you want. Even our larger design pieces bring a little joy and happiness into your home, so you can create a space for yourself that represents you.” ln

MindFlowers, mindflowers.shop, instagram.com/ourmindflowers, tiktok.com/@mindflowers.shop