When Sonia Mota and her partner José set out to found Francis Stories in 2018, they were both coming from a place of dissatisfaction with their careers and yearned to develop something that was exclusively their own, a product of sheer creativity that reflected their aesthetics, taste and personal values freely and without restraint. Given Sonia's background in fashion design and branding, this project organically translated into the making of a fashion brand that could also take a stand in today’s conversation about sustainability and contribute to make a change. Their objective was soon easy to identify: both agreed that being sustainable entailed, first and foremost, reducing production as well as consumption, therefore it was instinctive for them to focus on the realization of garments that would last long and resist the unceasing succession of trends.

Their mission is based on two premises: their designs are conscious of people’s necessities, thoughtful and aesthetically flawless; simple, unassuming yet elegant and sophisticated, resulting in highly versatile and practical pieces that can be worn over and over throughout time without losing relevance with the rotating of seasons. This can only be achieved by using raw and virgin fibres, such as fine Italian wool obtained from the SustainaWool Integrity Program, which guarantees the welfare of animals and the responsible management of natural resources, as well as the best quality and wearability to Francis Stories’ incredibly soft apparel, without involving synthetic or chemical elements and protecting the environment from toxic waste. For Sonia and José, an ethical production doesn’t merely revolve around how clothes are made, but it starts from a healthy and respectful working environment, where highly-skilled craftspeople are given superior working conditions and fair wages. It also affects shipping practices and the choice of sustainable packaging options, and doesn’t overlook life after consumption, that is, they want to make sure that the garments they produce can find a way back to nature at the end of their life cycle, organically decompose to ultimately turn into something new.

Blending with nature is a process that happens on two levels, through the harvesting and manufacture of biodegradable materials, and design-wise. In fact, their collections’ tones mirror the neutrality of colours spontaneously found in natural settings, such as the rural and unspoiled scenarios that Sonia learnt to admire whilst growing up on a small island in the middle of the Atlantic ocean. From off-white to light brown, including darker and earthy shades, their knitwear tells a story of respect and connection to the environment, a tale of transformation and renewal. After all, storytelling is an essential part of the Portuguese label and the starting point of each collection as the ‘Stories’ component of the brand’s name spells out; on the other hand, the ‘Francis’ part contributes to personify the brand and makes it relatable, individual. Through their stories and message-driven garments, Francis Stories aims at spreading further ethical concerns across the fashion industry, hoping that sustainability will become a norm in the future, which they are very excited and proud to be part of.

SHOP FRANCIS STORIES