Who’s doing this?

A woman with curly hair wearing a black hat with decorative beads, a sleeveless black and gray striped top, and a blue floral skirt, sitting on a bed holding a pink plush sheep toy and smiling.

Francine is the brainchild of me, Sofie Birkin—the “award-winning illustrator” mentioned all over the product listings (forgive the self-aggrandizement; it is my sacrificial offering to the gods of SEO). Here’s a little backstory for you:

I hail from the seaside town of Southend-on-Sea, the only child of Fran, my tailor mother, forever muse, and brand namesake, and my late father, Steve—a graphic designer, art teacher, and renaissance man (miss ya, Dad). I grew up an obsessive and constant maker—everything from strange toy rabbits and paper cakes to chessboard hats. Once I was old enough to get into debt for it, I kicked off my creative career with a shoemaking degree from London College of Fashion and a stint designing repeat prints for Dr. Martens. After graduation, I somewhat spontaneously moved to the USA and stumbled into a decade-long career as a queer illustrator, working on campaigns for clients like the Royal Mail, Planned Parenthood, Amnesty International, and Nike. I love illustration, but in 2025 I decided to heed the siren song of my heart’s true desire: interior design and handicrafts. I have spent the whole year designing, drawing, sewing, and making spreadsheets—and this is the result.

Francine was born with a shoestring budget and a simple premise: to bring craftsmanship, beauty, and play into your everyday spaces without sacrificing my integrity or yours. Everything you see is a true labor of love, made with luxury, longevity, and sustainability at the forefront. This is for my indoor children ♥

What’s it all about?

  • Ethos

    Francine exists to bring joy and personality into everyday spaces through thoughtful design. Francine is for the person who curates their world with care—someone who values style, storytelling, and sustainability in the objects they surround themselves with. We believe that home decor should be expressive and functional. Our mission is to create pieces that feel both special and accessible—the kinds of objects that spark conversations, hold memories, and evolve with the people who own them.

  • Sustainability

    Francine places sustainability at the forefront of our brand values. Currently, everything available on the site is made by hand in the USA. Over 95% of our materials are also sourced within the USA. We make things to the highest standards in the hope they will last you for years to come, and avoid the fate of landfill. Our packaging and shipping materials are reusable or recyclable wherever possible. Absolutely none of this is AI, and never will be.