Our Story
Francesca is a fashion-forward designer jewellery label from sisters Hannah & Rachel Vasicek. It began at Tasmania’s famous Salamanca Markets and has grown into a much-loved Australian brand, with a worldwide online store and shops in both Hobart and Melbourne. Francesca is the jewellery brand everyone turns to. Built on the belief that success counts for little without giving back, it pairs beautiful design with an empowering purpose.
Hannah first made jewellery when she was 12, and by 16 she was selling it at Salamanca Market. Her designs became popular there, and the business was renamed Francesca (the name her mother had hoped to give her!) while Hannah was studying Science & Law at University. The business kept growing through her studies, and in 2013, after taking out the young entrepreneur award for Australia, she chose to leap into her passion, Francesca, setting aside a possible career as a lawyer. Rachel finished school that very year, so the pair seized the chance to make their dreams real, and they have never looked back!
Since those early days at Salamanca Markets, we're proud of how many goals we've reached and how our audience has grown across the country and overseas! Today we have a flagship store in Hobart CBD and another in Melbourne Central! Pop up stores also appear regularly in shopping centres! Read on to learn more about our journey!
Our Journey So Far
2014
2014 brought us the Telstra Business of the Year title for Tasmania, which let us grow from a start-up into a legitimate brand that people have come to know and love. That success led to a new Hobart store for our local customers! In 2023 we were honored to reach the Tasmania State Final of the Telstra Best of Business Awards, up for two categories: Accelerating Women and Building Communities.
2016
2016 changed everything for Francesca, with the arrival of Francesca Create, the launch of personalised jewellery that lets you be the designer and make pieces full of meaning. We also made our dream of a first Melbourne CBD store come true , thanks to a wonderful crowdfunding campaign backed by people who believed in their vision, who received Francesca handmade bracelets in return.
2017
2017 saw the launch of our brand new dream flagship store in Hobart's CBD. Offering twice the floor space in a more central location, it placed us alongside the big multinational players of CBD shopping centres. We also debuted our first pop-up store inside a Melbourne shopping centre.
2019
Our Melbourne Central store was given a makeover in 2019 and became our dream concept store! You'll find us on level 2 of Melbourne Central, so drop by and see it yourself whenever you're in the area!
Today
We began beading at home and now have more than 10 beaders, and keeping that craft in the business is something we will always aim for. We're proud to still be making our beaded bracelets in our Hobart studio today. The Franc HQ team is made up of our fantastic online customer care and dispatch crew, the people managing inventory, and the creative marketing team! The Franc Fam means the world to us!
Giving back sits at the core of all we do! Our motto is "success means nothing unless you're giving back." In the last 8 years we have given more than $1.1 Million to charities around Australia! Browse our Charity Collection here!
Thanks for sticking with us, it truly means the world! We're excited to share the new designs and plans we have lined up for the future! xx