At a time when many are thinking about leaving, one family story from Tesanj shines as an example that with love, perseverance, and faith in the local community, something valuable can be created – not only for the family but also for society. The story of the brand “Mara Handmade Clothing for Kids” begins in Piljuzici, a small place in the municipality of Tesanj, where Franka and her husband Zovko decided to start their own production of handmade children’s clothing.
From family – for families
Franka Zovko, Master of Laws and mother of two children, after years of working in the public and private sector, decided together with her husband to enter the world of entrepreneurship. They did not follow market trends, but their own intuition, the values of parenting, and the need for quality, unique, and comfortable clothing for the youngest. Thus the idea for the MARA brand was born, which today, although still young, carries great meaning.
“In the sea of industrial clothing, we wanted to be different. Our goal was to offer something that exudes the warmth of home, attention, and quality. Something that we ourselves would want for our own children,” emphasizes Franka.
Behind the name MARA stands, as Franka proudly says, their main motivation – a daughter who came into the world at the end of summer 2024. The idea naturally took shape through daily parenting life, a desire for creative expression, and the need to act within their own community.
Made with love – in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH)
“Handmade, produced in BiH, woven with love” – this sentence is not just a marketing message, but a summary of their entrepreneurial philosophy. Every clothing item that comes out of their atelier is carefully handcrafted, with much effort and dedication, using carefully selected natural materials that are gentle on children’s skin, environmentally friendly, and comfortable to wear in all seasons.
“From the beginning, we knew we would not make compromises when it comes to material quality. Children deserve the best, and we as parents recognize the best,” Franka emphasizes.
Local support as the foundation of success
Franka’s and her husband’s entrepreneurial path was not without challenges, but what particularly encourages them is the support of the local community.
“We have people around us who want to help. In the area of our municipality, we have many people who helped us – with advice, sewing machines, packaging, and other segments of production and business. I want to take this opportunity to thank them all,” emphasizes Franka.
This story was also recognized within the local initiative “They are the future of Tesanj too,” and support was personally expressed to them by the Mayor of the Municipality of Tesanj, Suad Huskic, during a visit to the atelier in Piljuzici.
From Tesanj to Europe
Sales are currently done through the web shop http://www.mara.ba and social media channels, and the expansion strategy is clearly set – step by step, from the local market towards the regional and international.
Even now, although the brand has only been active for eight months, orders are arriving from all over BiH, as well as from Croatia and Germany, and plans are directed toward further expansion into the European Union (EU) market. There are currently 13 different products for girls and boys available on the website, and each of them carries a personal story, detailed craftsmanship, and emotional value.
“We’re happy when we know that we’re putting smiles on the faces of children and parents. When we receive messages from satisfied parents, we know we’re on the right path,” says Franka.
Although they did not start with big ambitions, the positive reactions of the market encouraged them to think about hiring new workers. In accordance with the brand’s philosophy, growth will be gradual, sustainable, and focused on quality, not quantity.
“We didn’t expect this number of orders in such a short time. That’s proof that people recognize sincere intent, quality, and the effort we put in. We believe that something valuable can be built in BiH too and that it’s not necessary to leave in order to achieve success,” says Franka, Akta writes.
