Empowering Young Women through Floral Design and Social Enterprise
Floris Istana is a Malaysia-based floral design and gifting enterprise operating at the intersection of creative commerce and social impact. Specialising in bespoke floral arrangements for occasions such as bereavements, corporate events, weddings, and curated gifting, the business serves both individual and corporate clients with a focus on thoughtful and meaningful design.
Beyond its commercial activities, Floris Istana is driven by a mission to create dignified livelihood opportunities for underserved women, particularly young women refugees who face barriers to formal employment. Through hands-on floristry training and real work exposure, the enterprise equips them with practical skills, income pathways, and a renewed sense of confidence and independence.
Recognising that many women in vulnerable communities remain excluded from stable income opportunities, Floris Istana integrates training directly into its business operations, transforming everyday floral production into a platform for empowerment. By aligning revenue generation with social outcomes, the enterprise demonstrates how small businesses can contribute to inclusive economic participation while maintaining sustainability and growth.
Founder Ashley Loh reflects on her journey with the #ImpactLink Programme and how it transformed her mindset towards funding and investment while strengthened her clarity, confidence, and readiness to engage with partners and funders in pursuit of sustainable impact.
➤ What key challenges did you have in scaling your social enterprise?
Before joining ImpactLink, Floris Istana faced ongoing challenges in balancing commercial sustainability with its social mission. As a small business, we operate with limited resources, so creating meaningful employment opportunities for underserved communities requires careful planning, flexibility, and long-term commitment.
Beyond these financial constraints, there are also operational and logistical complexities. Many of the beneficiaries we work with face challenges related to mobility and accessibility, including where they live and their ability to commute independently. This has required us to invest additional effort in coordinating transport to ensure continuity and inclusion.
After joining ImpactLink, I gained valuable mentorship, practical business insights, and a clearer perspective on how to scale Floris Istana more sustainably while staying true to our mission. The programme helped strengthen our strategic planning, improve how we communicate our social impact, and approach operational and growth challenges with greater confidence. Through the coaching sessions and regional network, I also felt more connected to a supportive ecosystem of social entrepreneurs, mentors, and partners across ASEAN and Japan.
Floris Istana completing a floral wedding arch installation at Our Lady of Lourdes Church in Malaysia.
➤ How has your approach to communicating impact evolved?
At the beginning, I did not consciously think about “communicating impact” in a structured way. My focus was simply on making a difference in the lives of the young women we worked with by providing them with skills, support, and a sense of dignity through meaningful work. Any impact was shared informally, mostly through personal stories and day-to-day experiences.
Through ImpactLink, I began to understand the importance of articulating impact more intentionally. I learned that beyond doing good work, it is equally important to clearly express what change is being created, for whom, and how it can be measured over time. This shift has helped me move from a purely intuitive and heart-driven approach to one that is more structured and strategic. I am now more conscious about connecting our activities to outcomes, and better equipped to communicate our impact to partners, stakeholders, and potential supporters in a way that builds understanding and trust.
From learning hands to confident creators – After the completion of the wedding arch installation, the Floris Istana team left the venue not just with a finished piece, but with pride, dignity, and a sense of accomplishment that no one can take away.
➤ How did your thinking around impact, fundraising, and investment change?
Previously, I did not actively think about fundraising or relying on external investment. I have always believed in being self-sufficient – growing the business through our own sales and with the support of my husband, rather than asking for help. My focus was simply on doing the work and sustaining it through what we could manage internally.
Through ImpactLink, my perspective began to shift. I started to see that it is not just about “asking for money,” but about creating meaningful partnerships with organisations and companies that share similar values and want to be part of the impact journey.
This experience helped me understand that funding and investment can be a form of collaboration where both sides are aligned in creating social value. It is no longer just about financial support, but about working together to expand impact in a more sustainable and scalable way, while still maintaining the integrity of our mission.
Cecilia came to us at just 15. Today, she arranges flowers with confidence, independence, and quiet strength. Watching her growth is a reminder that given the right opportunity, every young woman can bloom.
➤ How has #ImpactLink supported your readiness to receive funding or grants?
Before joining ImpactLink, I did not actively consider funding or grants as part of my journey. My approach has always been to stay focused, work within my means, and grow the business organically while doing what I can to support the young women.
From not knowing how to use a computer to managing emails, invoices, and client communication—Jeny Far’s journey is one of resilience, growth, and courage. Step by step, she’s building a future of her own.
ImpactLink gave me a new perspective and, more importantly, the structure and clarity I did not realise I needed. It helped me understand how to organise our work, articulate our impact more clearly, and identify the gaps we need to strengthen before seeking any form of support.
“What I appreciate most about ImpactLink is that it did not change my core values—it strengthened them. I remaincommitted to building something sustainable and responsible, but I am now better prepared and more confident to engage with potential partners or funders in a thoughtful and intentional way, when the time is right.”
―Ashley Loh, Founder, Floris Istana
➤ How has your readiness to pursue funding or grants evolved?
My readiness has evolved from not actively considering funding at all to being more open and intentional about it. In the past, I relied fully on our own resources and focused on sustaining the business independently, without seeing external support as part of the journey.
Today, I feel more prepared—not just in terms of understanding what funders may be looking for, but also in having greater clarity about our own direction, values, and the impact we want to create. I am more mindful about when and how to pursue funding, ensuring that any opportunity aligns with our mission and capacity.
Rather than rushing into it, I now see funding as something to approach thoughtfully—at the right stage, with the right partners—so that it supports sustainable growth and allows us to deepen our impact without compromising who we are.
Learn more about Floris Istanaat: www.florisistana.com; https://www.instagram.com/florisistana
Follow Ashley’s journey: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashley-loh-61801aa9/
Disclaimers:
This article is published for informational purposes only and does not constitute the promotion or endorsement of the featured business. Interview content has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
#ImpactLink is an initiative of the ASEAN-Japan Centre, launched in FY2025, to systematically strengthen the funding and investment readiness and professional capabilities of women-led social enterprises across ASEAN and Japan. The programme convenes entrepreneurs from both regions to enhance financial literacy, digital competencies, and investment readiness, while enabling the effective translation of knowledge into practical, investment-relevant action.
The Centre works as an Enabler, collaborating with ecosystem partners to support inclusive entrepreneurship through capacity-building programmes, mentorship, and cross-border collaboration.
Be a part of the #ImapactLink and send us an email at info_rpa@asean.or.jp
