Where We Started (History of Seraphina)
Seraphina Safety Apparel was forged and founded on a simple promise… securing the safety of industrial workers who face thermal hazards on the job. As Kelly Franko, founder and president, puts it:
“Our business is about people. Protecting people. Empowering people. Advancing people.”
Seraphina was never meant to be just another apparel brand. It was built to solve a problem that had gone unanswered for far too long. Women in high hazard industries deserved flame-resistant protection that actually fits their bodies. This is the story of how that gap in the market became a mission, and how that mission became a nationally recognized brand redefining PPE for women.
A Conversation
The spark that ignited Seraphina’s journey happened in 2018 at the Performance Racing Industry (PRI) trade show. Kelly, who had spent her career in wound care and post-surgical garments as well as owning a bra boutique specializing in fit and comfort, was asked a question that would alter her career: Could she create flame-resistant base layers for women? At the time, almost no options existed. Kelly’s husband didn’t hesitate “Yes, she can.” And with that, the idea took root.
Kelly spent 2019 researching fabrics, engineering designs, and perfecting fit. Not by shrinking men’s garments and calling them “women’s”, but by building true women’s PPE from the ground up. By the end of the year, she had developed her “Core 4” product line, including a now patented bra design. Wear trails were complete. Inventory was getting started. Momentum was building.
Then the world shut down.
Pivoting Through a Pandemic
When COVID-19 halted business in March 2020, Kelly didn’t stop. She expanded the product line, explored new industries, and refined designs to meet the needs of women far beyond motorsports. That resilience paid off. Today, Seraphina serves both women and men working in: Steel, Petrochemical, Electrical & Utility, Mining, Paper & Pulp, Fire Safety, Military & Ballistics.
Seraphina’s flame-resistant garments, from bras to leggings, tanks, tees, hoods, and jackets, are engineered to protect against fire, arc flash, shed sparks, spills, and molten metal while keeping workers cool, dry, and safe.
Built on Values That Don’t Bend
Seraphina’s growth has always been anchored in its core values:
Integrity and Ethics which guide every decision
Loyalty to partners, products, and most importantly the workers
Transformation by disrupting the status quo
Responsibility through sustainable resources
Quality through craftsmanship and best in class components; The true backbone of every garment.
Growing Into a National Voice
2025 marked a turning point. Seraphina refined its internal processes, strengthened its supply chain, and deepened relationships with distributors. The company scaled without compromise, a rare but needed contribution in manufacturing. Seraphina has grown through increased adoption across industries served, broadened product visibility through new distributor partnerships, advances in product development and custom manufacturing, and a stronger voice in national conversations around PPE equity.
“Each of these wins reinforced a central truth: when you solve real problems thoughtfully, growth follows.”
One of the most meaningful milestones? Hearing directly from workers who felt safer wearing Seraphina products, and seeing companies update PPE programs to recognize FR base layers as essential, not optional.
Innovation as a Way of Life
Kelly’s approach to innovation is simple: ask “What’s wrong, and what’s missing.”
Seraphina continues to help customers get what they need and is always looking for ways to improve on current designs.
Looking Ahead
Seraphina Safety Apparel stands today as proof that meaningful change begins with a single question and grows through unwavering commitment. What started as a gap in protection has become a movement reshaping how industries think about safety, equity, and the people behind the work. As Seraphina continues to innovate, expand, and advocate, one truth remains at the center of every decision: workers deserve protection that honors their lives, their bodies, and their futures. The story isn’t finished, and with every new garment, partnership, and breakthrough, Seraphina moves the standard of safety forward for everyone who relies on it.