Growing up with close ties to hoteliers, Francesca Cloros is no stranger to life on the move; she spent many of her formative years feeling at home in some of the world’s most luxurious hotels. With a penchant for beautifully considered spaces, she launched Rocco House in 2022, when she was three months pregnant with her son Apollo, a creative consultancy for luxury boutique hotels.

Now with another baby on the way, Francesca prides herself as being a mother above everything else, a sentiment imprinted on her by her own mother Maria. In an interview captured by Phoebe Wolfe, Francesca and Maria explore the transformative journey of motherhood and how their perspectives on life and love have evolved. 

What’s a lesson from your mum that has stayed with you?

That family, and family heritage, is everything.

Can you share a small moment with your mum that meant the world to you?

Now that my sister Sophie and I are both mothers ourselves, the way Mum always shows up for us means everything. She’s the best Nonna, and her grandchildren absolutely adore her. Watching those relationships grow and seeing this new sense of purpose for her within our family means so much to all of us. Francesca wears the Divers Earrings, Bar Chain and Emerald Pear Carabiner. Maria wears our one-of-a-kind Emerald Fine Divers Earrings.

How has spending time in nature together, by the ocean or elsewhere, strengthened your bond?

Nature has always been a part of how we travel and spend time together, we’re always by the ocean and in the sun. It’s when everything slows down. We fall into an easy rhythm of swimming, eating, laughing, and napping. I always find that those are some of our most connected moments. What’s something about your mum that you’ve come to admire even more with time?

Her unwavering commitment to us. No matter what stage of life we’ve been in, she’s always shown up with the same love and support.

What’s something unexpected you’ve learned about your mum as you’ve grown up?

Her strength. There’s a quiet resilience to her that I didn’t fully see until I became a mother myself. Now that you’re a mother to Apollo, how has your relationship with your mum shaped the way you raise him?

Becoming a mother has completely changed the way I see my mum and my perspective on motherhood. I’ve grown to have such a deep understanding and respect for everything she did for us and gave to us. Mothers really do make the world go around.

“My greatest legacy will be how my children remember me as their mum.”

How do you balance being a mother with your career?

It’s definitely a balancing act between projects and motherhood, something I’m still trying to find the rhythm for. I’m not sure any mum ever really feels like they’ve nailed it. My work is important to me, but my greatest legacy will be how my children remember me as their mum, so I always try to give them my all.
Do you and your mum share a tradition or ritual that feels especially significant?

Our birthday song: Happy Birthday by Stevie Wonder. It plays without fail at every celebration and almost always ends with us dancing on tables together.

Discover Rocco House here.

For all kinds of mothers and mother figures, discover our Mother's Day gift guide here. 

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