Today we’d like to introduce you to Frank E. Barberena.
Hi Frank, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
Faithful Nature was born out of the desire to stand for Christ, community, and conservation.
During my time as an undergrad a UCF, I took advantage of the resources available at the Blackstone LaunchPad to get my questions answered and begin laying the foundation. Just getting started is the first hurdle, so praying, seeking direction, and deciding to get your passions off the ground is a huge accomplishment in and of itself.
Through the crafting of quality garments that prioritize people and planet along with the forming of genuine connections with nonprofits around the world, we are building something beautiful where faith meets action.
When all is said and done, we commit 10% of our total revenue back to our nonprofit partners to support them in their missions to elevate people and protect the environment, all in Jesus’ name.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There are always challenges, especially when you’re entering such a saturated space like apparel.
From the beginning, I was committed to setting us apart for the right reasons. First and foremost, we will always and unapologetically do it all for God. My faith in Jesus is foundational to my life and I wanted to create something that I could proudly say that I do not own, but steward for Him.
Secondly, we want to give aggressively and challenge other brands to do the same, even if that means taking longer to scale. The 10% that we give is based on the Biblical principle of tithing, and if it’s good enough for God, it’s good enough for us!
So, is it tempting to cut corners and save time not sourcing products ethically and responsibly? Do we want to keep the 10% in our pockets instead of paying it forward? Sure, but then we wouldn’t stand for anything, so we would fall for everything.
We’ll keep being true to who we are and we trust that if we let God keep leading the way, we’ll arrive right where He wants us to be.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Besides the focus on creating quality, sustainably crafted goods for life and adventure along with intentional relationships with our nonprofit partners, Faithful Nature aims to redefine social responsibility.
Giving is more than a thread of our business model, it is interwoven into the fabric of who we are — Second only to our identity in Jesus, giving aggressively and challenging others to do the same is our defining factor.
We love to use the analogy of a “Chocolate Chip” kind of faith. We bake with, but not in the batter. You should be able to tell us apart when you take a bite, and when you ask why it’s so good, we make sure you know the secret ingredient is Jesus.
Besides the 10% of every purchase that we are privileged give to our nonprofit partners, we also spearhead community outreach projects where we link up with local nonprofits like our friends at Conscious Life to rally local businesses and individuals in an effort to raise funds for neighbors in need right here in Central Florida.
Since 2019, we have had the privilege of raising and distributing nearly $4000 in aid through hot meals, warm winter clothing, and sleeping bags for our home-bound neighbors around Downtown Orlando and Kissimmee as well as direct monetary aid for healthcare workers, food pantries, and families struggling early on in the pandemic, all for God’s glory.
The more we learn about this space that is fashion and apparel, the more we realize that there is a ceiling to how good an article of clothing can actually be. You will ultimately be paying double or triple for a tee that serves the same purpose and that the difference in quality is frankly negligible. People pay for the brand as much, if not more, than they do the fit, quality, ethics, etc. so as we continue to build ours, we want to let you know where your money goes — To Christ, community, and conservation.
We’d be remiss to not wrap it up by mentioning our love of nature. In its heart of hearts, Faithful Nature is a brand built for the outdoors. Yes, our stuff looks just as good grabbing a bite downtown as it does snagging some Sun on the coast, but it’s built for adventure. I believe that we were planted here in Central Florida for a reason and we are stoked to highlight what the Sunshine State has to offer every chance we get.
Here in Orlando, we’re a stone’s throw away from the world’s most beautiful and pristine clear water springs with limestone caves that stretch for miles underground. Follow the Sun in either direction and you have endless coastlines with beaches that quench and satisfy any palate. Whether you’re looking to take it slow and enjoy a world-class sunset in the Gulf’s peaceful waters and white sandy beaches or chase the morning sun to the Atlantic to tackle the day’s hurricane swell, we got it and we do it well. God put a little extra love into Florida and we’re stoked to show that off.
While we operate in apparel, we’re truly in the business of stewardship — stewarding resources and nature for God.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Jesus is the defining factor to whatever “success” Faithful Nature has garnered as well as myself as an individual. All the glory is His and His alone.
There are doors that have opened to us that we are nowhere near qualified to walk through. There is no way that a small clothing brand barely on its feet could raise nearly $1700 in the middle of the pandemic and turn it into hot meals and monetary assistance for healthcare workers and local families in need without God’s help.
Besides that, I am blessed to have an incredible support system in my wife and family, so having people around you that believe in what you do is incredibly motivating.
Whatever we have and will accomplish is all because of Him and we trust our posture of generosity and stewardship to carry and scale us into the future.
Contact Info:
- Email: faithfulnaturecompany@gmail.com
- Website: faithfulnaturecompany.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/faithful.nature/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/faithful.nature/?modal=admin_todo_tour
- Other: https://www.faithfulnaturecompany.com/frankebarberena/home
Image Credits
Frank E. Barberena
Matthew Chavez-Quiros
Gilbran Laureano Jr.
Jorge Melendez
