Let’s be honest: mixing family with business isn’t for everyone. For many, the idea of partnering professionally with their mother or daughter might sound like a recipe for disaster. But for Suze and Holly Stille, it’s exactly what has helped shape their brand, Stone & Mason, into what it is today.
“We always say that our cross-generational input and respective backgrounds are what make the Stone & Mason brand so strong,” the stylish creatives tell H! Fashion. “We’d say that our different outlooks are consistently strengthening not just the brand but our product – Suze has a strong eye for design and manufacturing details and Holly for marketing and digital presence (aka the techy stuff!)”
The mother-daughter duo launched Stone & Mason in 2018 after Suze spotted a gap in the market for cross-generational female-focused accessories that cut through the noise.
Fast forward eight years, and their playful yet polished conversation-starting pieces crafted from innovative fibres derived from crisp packets, recyclable acrylics and raffia that supports tree-planting initiatives – have found a loyal following, appearing on the likes of Lila Moss, Vogue Williams, Jodie Kidd, and plenty of Instagram It-girls.
Their relationship as mother and daughter is also woven into the ethos of the brand: “Our brand approach is to build a wardrobe of modern heirlooms, pieces to be passed from mother to daughter, borrowed (or stolen) for the next special occasion, so our relationship certainly influenced this. From as long as we can remember, we have been talking accessories and style to one another, often pinching things from each other’s wardrobes (Holly stealing from Suze) – it is a no-brainer that we started a strong, female-driven brand that focuses on style and function.”
So how do they separate their working relationship from their personal one? The answer is simple: they don’t. Aside from having clearly defined roles in the business – the pair seamlessly mix business with pleasure and still remain the best of friends. “One conversation can start on a new piece of clothing, lead to us a new design and then by the end we are discussing the latest episode of reality TV!” they tell us.
In celebration of Mother’s Day, we sat down with the stylish design duo to talk about the beginnings of Stone & Mason, what it’s really like working side by side as mother and daughter, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way while building a brand together.
What inspired you to start a brand together – and whose idea was it?
It was originally Suze’s idea! The original concept was having bags with on-the-go kits inside, with the tagline being ‘more than just a bag’ which has now been the brand mantra from inception and it shows its influence across Stone & Mason in numerous ways.
Firstly, Stone & Mason has always created bags that can be styled in multiple
ways. One bag could be a crossbody, backpack, top handle, shoulder or
bum bag simply by adding or removing one of the many interchangeable
straps. Customers are investing in one bag but that doesn’t mean it should
be confined to one style of bag, we want them to have options. Some of our
bags still come with a kit, however now our beach bags are pre-packed with
a quick dry towel, fan and waterproof pouch for your wet bikini, or our crystal
inspired Stones Collection with a crystal beautifying gua sha and roller set.
We have our popular Crisp Collection bags, made from upcycled crisp
packets, which started Stone & Mason’s initiative to seek out unique and
sustainable production methods and materials. What was once waste, now
the crisp packets can be woven together to create something totally new
and different. It isn’t just any old handbag, it is ‘more than just a bag’- it is
trash turned into treasure.
We now have fabrics such as ENEA (derived from wetlands), and some of the
resort styles in our most recent collection ensures the raffia that is used is
also replanted. Stone & Mason isn’t just about looking good (although that’s
a strong pull) we also want to do good, using state of the art materials and
giving back to charities and initiatives globally.
What made you realise you would make good business partners as well as mother and daughter?
We had always been very close even before we started Stone & Mason. At
the time we had been sharing an office, and started helping each other out –
it just ended up making sense to join forces and do something together!
Especially with our backgrounds being the perfect combination to create a
fashion brand, Suze in design and Holly with brand and marketing.
What do you think are the biggest advantages of working together as a mother–daughter duo?
Our close bond and communication shows within our final product. We run a
tight ship at Stone & Mason HQ and ensure that our product is sampled until
we get to perfection. It’s such a labour of love and to have both of our eyes
casting over everything is imperative..
Do your design tastes align naturally, or do you each bring a different perspective to the brand?
We have similar tastes but style things in different ways. For example, Holly
would wear our Mini Toffee Rock and possibly accessorise it with some cute
bag-charms where Suze would wear the larger version of it and keep it more
demure, maybe wrap a scarf around the handle.
H: I love a mini bag to throw my keys (obviously with their Rose Quartz
Mushroom Charm on) and lip gloss in to take me from day to night, that’s
why the Mini Rock is my absolute favorite at the moment! I get so many
comments, it just sits at the table with me and the complements come in!
S: I need the bigger size Rock so I can carry all my clobber! I’m mum! Mum’s
need to come fully prepared, from plasters to tissues for snotty noses, my
children may be in their 30s but it hasn’t changed!
How do you divide responsibilities within the business? Do you have clearly defined roles?
Holly does more of the ops and business side, Suze does the creative, design
and finances.We do think though it is very much a joint venture, there will be
moments when it is all hands on deck working together and then some
where we divide and conquer. Suze has taught me so much about design
which has become one of my favourite parts of the business. It is so fun to sit
together and come up with ideas and then finally one day see them on a red
carpet or in tagged photos from customers on holiday!
Every partnership has its moments – how do you navigate disagreements when they arise?
We think knowing that it is never anything personal, and never taking
anything to heart if there was any kind of disagreement (although they are
few and far between!). We can have a discussion about something we might
not agree on.
Maybe we have a cross word and the next thing we are asking
if the other wants a coffee or to go get lunch together! We’ve been doing
this for so long now and we’ve been through so much with the business as
well as personally we feel like we can handle anything together!
And then bottom line – I (Holly) learnt a long time ago Suze is generally
always right!
What is something you’ve learned about each other through working together that you didn’t know before?
We think the most fascinating thing has been seeing how each other works,
what motivates each other and probably how similar we really are!! The same
things are important to us with how the business runs, what we are looking
for in a product we are creating and selling, we are both perfectionists!
What are each of your favourite things about working together day-to-day?
Spending more time together in an ever-busy society. Being able to see one
another daily and do what we love together. It feels like we aren’t only
building our brand but we are also building our relationship. It is very special.
Sometimes we have pinch us moments about how this is our job that we get
to do what we love together every day and have fun doing it! Even in the
stressful times we support each other and usually any tears turn into cackling
together being silly!
If you had to describe each other’s style in three words, what would they be?
H on S: Cool Classic Clean
S on H: She copies me
We will point out that we often turn up to work in the same outfit, matching by
accident! Clearly one mind!
Do you each have a favourite bag from the brand, and why does it stand out to you?
H: I LOVE the new Rock Bags, I have been stopped at restaurants, in lifts, in
bars by people saying how much they love my bag! I love that I get to turn
around and say we designed them and it’s from our brand! I can’t wait for the
Candy Floss colourway to come out. It is so perfect for Spring and Wedding
Guest dressing.
S: I love my Ricky Bag for day to day, but I truly love the Gold and Silver
Nugget for evening as they go with absolutely anything and still stand out.
It’s like a sculpture or piece of art that you get to carry around with you.
What advice would you give to other families thinking about starting a business together?
Having trust and respect for one another has been key. Always expect the
other person’s opinion even if it isn’t your own. Great ideas can come from
this! We don’t undermine each other, decisions are always made together
and I think that’s why we have such a successful working relationship as well
as a personal one!
Looking ahead, what can we expect next from S&M?
We have just launched SS26 which is made up of 3 key pillars and drops:
Wedding & Event, Sustainability and Resort. These are the USP’s we really
want to lean into as the brand grows. They are the biggest selling categories
for us and we love the idea that we are now a go-to brand for our customer’s
special life moments such as their wedding day! Our Crisp, Palomino and
Raffia styles are all made from sustainable materials and we work with
charities to produce them all. Resort is another huge pull for us and our
beach bags were one of the first styles we developed and still a best-seller.
Longer term we are thinking of exploring some retail opportunities and a
design collaboration!
How will you be celebrating Mother’s Day this year?
H: My brothers and I are taking Suze to Wild by Tart, it’s pretty, the food is fab
and Suze’s granddoggy Margie is joining us as it is dog friendly! Perfect
Mother’s Day if you ask us!
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever given each other – either about life or work?
H: Suze has always just told me to be myself. The more I have been
completely me, the better my life has got.
S: It’s your parents’ first time on this planet too; everyone is always learning
and growing, no matter whether you are the mother or the child.
And also…don’t wind up your brothers…it won’t get you anywhere
If you could describe your mother–daughter relationship in one sentence, what would it be?
Fun, playful, supportive, caring.. but we get stuff DONE!
What little rituals or moments do you share that always make you feel connected, even on busy workdays?
Every morning Holly comes in early before anyone else gets to the office
(which is in Suze’s home) and we sit and have our morning coffee meeting in
her bed. We go through everything that has happened in the 12 hours since
we have been apart (Lol) as well as what needs to be done that day. We
often end up coming up with some of our best ideas when we are just
chatting away. I honestly think we have done this since the inception of the
brand and it is such a nice way to start our day, and even since Holly was
little!
Oh and some sort of Real Housewives will be running in the background of
the office, our white noise is drunk women screaming at each other! We love
it!
Is there a story from your journey together – funny, touching, or unexpected – that perfectly sums up your partnership?
We have been all over the world for our brand trialling factories, sourcing
materials etc. It has taken us to some of the worst and best places. We think
something that stands out though will always be that no matter where we are
we will always be able to scout out a cocktail and have a giggle at the end of
the day. It has been such an adventure already and we know that there are
so many more giggles and PLENTY more cocktails to come!
Stone & Mason’s new SS26 collection includes their Gigi and Quinta Bags made in collaboration with raffia suppliers that replant over 11,000 raffia plants and trees annually, available exclusively online at stone-and-mason.com. Prices from £325.
© Stone & Mason
© Stone & Mason
© Stone & Mason
