Moms and Dads

Marie Garcia & Isa Garcia-Sicam: A Blooming Family Legacy

by Kevyn Gohu
June 16, 2025

Now leading their parents’ beloved floral business, Designer Blooms, sisters Marie Garcia and Isa Garcia-Sicam share how love, legacy, and sisterhood continue to shape every bouquet

While flower bouquets have long been a language of love, for sisters Marie Garcia and Isa Garcia-Sicam, they are also a living expression of their parents’ vision, values, and passion for creating beauty. Whether designing a bouquet or ensuring an arrangement arrives at its destination, every decision they make for Designer Blooms is deeply rooted in the foundation their parents built—a legacy both sisters consider an honor and a privilege to carry forward.

Isa remains in awe of how their parents nurtured the brand to bloom both locally and on the global stage. “My parents have done a tremendous job in building a strong Filipino brand that has outlasted many others that started around the same time in the early ’90s,” she shares.

“We see our role as continuing their story while writing our own chapter — with purpose, growth, and heart,” adds Marie.

Isa Garcia-Sicam

How a Bud Grows by Example

Like many children who grew up in a family business, Marie and Isa Garcia’s training began the moment they could hold a pair of scissors. Weekends were spent observing—and eventually helping—their mom with her small flower business, which they ran from their garage in Vancouver. From painting seagrass gazebos to cutting ribbons, they gradually took on bigger roles, eventually managing retail stores in Alabang Town Center and Glorietta when Designer Blooms blossomed into the Philippine retail scene.

Through those hands-on experiences, the sisters discovered that the business had the best of both worlds. Their mother, the late Rica Garcia, was the creative spirit, while their father, Ting Garcia, brought structure and business acumen.

“Whenever guests would enter the store, she would greet them as if they were long-time friends,” Marie shares. “To her, relationships mattered more than transactions.”

“My mom was creative and deeply empathetic,” Isa adds. “She was always thinking differently, offering unique products that no one else had seen in the Philippine market. My dad saw the potential in her ideas and taught us how smart, educated risks could really pay off.”

With integrity and consistency as their compass, the sisters pushed through every challenge the business faced, including the pandemic. Technology helped bridge the distance. But what truly kept them afloat were the values they grew up with: loyalty, leadership, and staying true to the brand.

For their parents, unity and respect weren’t just business values. They were family values. And as long as those were intact, the company and the family would thrive.

Isa Garcia-Sicam and Marie Garcia with their mom and dad

Blooming on the Global Stage

While their parents wrote the first chapter of Designer Blooms in the Philippines, Marie and Isa see it as their responsibility to begin the next one on the international stage. Time spent in Vancouver during the pandemic sparked a new vision. Surrounded by small, independent flower shops and a handful of online companies focused solely on volume, the sisters saw an opportunity to offer something more: a brand that delivered not just flowers, but feeling—a story told through every bouquet.

“There was no prominent flower brand across North America,” Isa recalls. “And we felt our strength—delivering a premium experience—was something we knew well. With a solid foundation in both the Philippine and North American markets, we’ve now expanded across Canada, from the west to the east coast, and into Southern California in the U.S.”

“It became a chance to reintroduce the Designer Blooms ethos,” Marie adds. “Our attention to detail, floral artistry, and commitment to creating meaningful experiences—this time for a global audience. Our late mother also dreamed of seeing Designer Blooms grow beyond oceans. Making that dream come true has been one of the most meaningful parts of this journey.”

But going global has its challenges, especially when navigating different time zones and daylight saving time. Fortunately, being dual citizens has helped. With Isa based in Vancouver and Marie in San Francisco, they oversee North American operations by day and Philippine operations by night.

“Marie and I make it a point to have weekly meetings and spend at least two to three hours a week together virtually. This is our time to align on priorities and catch up on our to-dos,” Isa explains. “Annually, we also carve out time to focus on the bigger picture and company direction before cascading to our leadership teams.”

Marie adds, “We also have regular check-ins that go beyond operations. We talk about vision, culture, and how we’re feeling. We respect each other’s strengths and give each other space to lead in our own ways. At the end of the day, we’re grounded in the same why: honoring our family, building a beautiful brand, and showing our kids what women can achieve together.”

Marie Garcia and Isa Garcia-Sicam of Designer Blooms

Staying Deeply Rooted Amidst the Trends

While it’s essential for any business to keep up with the times, Marie and Isa remain committed to the philosophy that started it all: flowers that tell a story, service that feels personal, and a brand built on warmth and elegance. Trends may come and go, but staying true to their core values has been their north star. And thanks to a strong foundation in the Philippines, they’ve been able to scale with intention, both operationally and creatively.

“It’s important to acknowledge that we’re part of so many people’s milestone moments,” Isa explains. “We recognize the significance of these occasions in our customers’ lives, and so we strive to deliver an extraordinary experience every single time.”

That same commitment to excellence has earned the trust of luxury names like Dior, Tiffany & Co., Land Rover, Porsche, and Clarins. By listening closely and adapting thoughtfully, the sisters have continued to grow in Canada and the U.S., without losing sight of what makes their brand meaningful.

“It’s about staying anchored in who we are, even as we evolve with new cultures, preferences, and trends,” Marie adds.

Motherhood has also shaped Isa’s approach to leadership. Returning to Designer Blooms after starting a family prompted her to shift from a rigid corporate mindset to a more empathetic and flexible leadership style. Wearing the mom hat helped her connect not only with customers but also with the many mothers on their team.

“It’s how I’m able to direct our Mother’s Day communications to be more relevant, or create new service offerings—like our Christmas decorations for rent,” Isa beams.

Marie Garcia

Planting the Seeds in the Next Generation

Keeping a family business alive isn’t just about staying grounded. It’s also about planting seeds of good faith for customers and for the next generation.

For Marie and Isa, raising their families while running Designer Blooms is both deeply fulfilling and wonderfully chaotic. Presence is a non-negotiable, which is why they often bring their children to the studio and involve them in small, meaningful ways.

“It’s our way of blending family and work in a meaningful way,” Marie says. “Doing this has also taught us to ask for help, set boundaries, and most importantly, give ourselves grace.”

“It’s also about being a team player and working within your boundaries,” Isa adds. “As a mom to my son, I focus on being present and reassuring him that I’ll always be there. With my husband, it’s about supporting each other. And for myself, I try to stay healthy—physically and mentally.”

Even their bond as sisters has a self-care ritual. While business trips can be grueling, they carve out small pockets of rest for each other.

“Last February, after a week-long series of meetings and a company kickoff in Manila, we took a short spa getaway—just the two of us,” Isa recalls. “Or after a long purchasing trip in China, we’d treat ourselves to a really good dinner. We usually bond over food or relaxation!”

Telling Stories, One Bouquet at a Time

While technology can replicate the beauty of flowers on a screen, it still can’t capture the heartfelt message behind an arrangement. That’s what Designer Blooms continues to deliver as it evolves into a global lifestyle brand. At its core is the essence of gift-giving—one filled with thought, intention, and beauty. And at the heart of it all is its Filipino soul.

“We want the world to experience the warmth, creativity, and spirit of our culture,” Marie shares.

To do this means embracing innovation as a tool for connection. Whether through AI, e-commerce, smarter systems, or new market expansion, every move must be intentional and aligned with the heart of the brand. For Isa, that means never losing sight of what truly matters: showing up for life’s meaningful moments and celebrating them with the joy and grace of flowers.

While many feel strangled by the pressure of carrying a family legacy, Marie and Isa don’t. Instead, they bloom. So long as they stay true to their family’s roots, Designer Blooms will continue to flourish for many years to come.