ABOUT US
Hey there, it’s me. Anne.
I’ve always loved making things. From mud pies in my back yard, dandelion crowns in my front yard, hand sewing Frankenstein-ish clothes for my Barbies in my bedroom.…I’ve had my hands in all the pots within reach since I can remember. Coming from a home that oftentimes wasn’t safe or particularly nurturing, this was my escape. My imagination was my freedom and friend. I like to think that I come from a long line of tortured artists. though that is a matter of adapting the right perspective, just like with everything else in life. My dad was a Carpenter and a Welder. I remember him teaching me how to weld at his shop and showing me blue prints he had done by hand, my eyes wide and appreciative. He had the best hand writing of any man I’ve ever met. Both him and my mom were always listening to music.
My mom played the piano beautifully and I remember falling asleep to the sound of Fur Elise from the living room. I found sketchbooks from her youth and couldn’t believe she had never fostered or pursued an artistic career.
the brand
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the brand *
My Grandma Florence is my biggest inspiration. She is the Source for me I think. She was an amazing seamstress, knitter, lacemaker, millener, ceramasist, cook, baker, and scientist. Always creating and curious. I think she would have liked to use her uncommon education and have a career as big and powerful as her. Despite my admiration and appreciation for her, we never got along.
I imagine I would have turned out so similar to her. Shrank myself to fit into the confines of a home. As someone that grew up in a time where financial freedom and building a life outside of the rigid norm was not an option, I think giving up those core pieces of her identity for something smaller, took a toll.
This is a tale as old as patriarchy. And though so much progress has been made, theres still so far to go. The steps we take to get there are worth celebrating and this brand is a celebration of my experiences as a women.
My Grandmother taught my mom how to knit, then my mom taught me. I went on to teach myself how to crochet and eventually received my Diploma in Fashion Design. Her name was Florence and that name was passed down to my mother, as her middle name and then onto me as mine. Here's to her.
The logo
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The logo *
The logo for Anne Florence also has some pretty legendary lore.
In an effort to connect with myself and to avoid growing into an idea that originated from someone else and not even my own, I decided I would embark on a journey of remembering instead. After finding out that I have a whopping 97% Germanic French ancestry (most recently concentrated in Ireland), I have been fascinated with that part of my ancestral memory. The stories that I was never told, but I hold in my DNA. I wanted my brand to represent the connection to the self. So after getting real nerdy with it, I was inspired by the mysticism and magic aspect of Norse culture.
Using symbols imbued with magic sounded like a pretty epic logo idea to me. I decided to use the Elder Fhutark symbols Kenaz and Ansuz, which when combined closely resemble the initials of the brand. They are known to have the power to transform, enhancing of creativy, divine inspiration, and truth.
Kenaz
Ansuz
