Somia, the clothing brand created by the president of Sorli, arrives in Barcelona

Before starting to work in the family business, Anna Sorli launched Salamandra, a blouse brand, with a classmate. Both had studied Fashion Design and wanted to solve a market deficiency they had detected: there were no pretty shirts for women. They put in effort, but impatience got the better of them; they wanted it to work too quickly and didn't let the project mature. A year and a half later, the company closed, and Anna Sorli dedicated herself to the distribution group her grandfather, Francesc Sorli, had created. Since 2015, she has been the president.

Now, 30 years later, Anna Sorli has rekindled her entrepreneurial spirit in the fashion world with Somia, the women's clothing brand she has been working on since summer 2019. She wants it to be "very Mediterranean" and defines it as "sustainable, local, and supportive." It all started when a friend told her about a workshop in Mataró linked to the Ared Foundation, focused on integrating vulnerable women from penitentiary centers. A light bulb went off, and she thought she could make "women's clothing to help women."

The first collection was launched a year later, in the midst of the pandemic: "I always say it won't get any worse." It was presented to the public through two channels: e-commerce and in-person. The latter was from the concept store of the Sorli Emocions shopping center, in Vilassar de Dalt, where there is also a restaurant and a hotel.

Anna Sorli had in mind from the beginning to open a store in Barcelona, but the ideal location just wasn't appearing. While the search for a space in the Catalan capital became complicated, one appeared in Sant Cugat del Vallès, where Somia ended up opening its first establishment at the end of 2021. With a reduced size and few products on display, the Sant Cugat location is about to close its first fiscal year covering costs.

After Vilassar and Sant Cugat, Sorli's clothing brand arrives in Barcelona this Thursday, where it has finally found the suitable location, which is on Rosselló street, between Rambla Catalunya and Paseo de Gràcia. With an area of 200 square meters, the new store will offer a wide representation of Somia's products, from shirts, sweaters, jeans, and dresses to accessories. The store will also have a space for jewelry and perfumery. In addition, this winter, leather garments and party dresses will be included. Later, scarves and swimsuits will arrive.

The garments, designed to be for everyday wear and comfortable, are made "with organic, local, and recycled fabrics, but, above all, pleasant." Some bear names like Tramuntana, Gregal, Cadaqués or Empúries. Regarding the price, Sorli points out that "it is not low cost nor luxury," with sweaters that do not reach 100 euros and jeans that are above 150 euros. The clothes are manufactured in workshops in Barcelona, Mataró, and Igualada, with the support of the Ared Foundation, but also of Nou Xamfrà, a foundation in Sant Feliu de Llobregat dedicated to the inclusion of people with functional diversity.

"I can combine it with Sorli," insists the president of the distribution chain, although she admits that she is putting in many hours, working until late. For the opening in Barcelona and Sant Cugat del Vallès, in addition to the development of e-commerce, Anna Sorli has allocated about 100,000 euros. 10 direct jobs have been created, to which 50 indirect ones are added, half in the foundations and the other half in the workshops. For now, she does not contemplate more openings or creating franchises and is focused on consolidating the brand.