Let us talk Franks
Bowing out of theatre, Camilla Franks found herself in the equally theatrical world of fashion. Time Out finds out more about this leading lady.
Far east, middle east A riot of colour in Franks' Arabian Nights collection
"The course of true love never did run smooth," as the famous Shakespearian quote goes, but for the young actress treading the boards in A Midsummer's Night Dream, the love of flamboyant design was a far smoother journey. A budding star, Camilla Franks grew up in the whirlwind world of theatre, touring the country playing an array of colourful characters. "I loved acting, the lifestyle, the adventures, but there just wasn't enough work to go round."
Chatting at her store in Bondi, Franks, 31, is the first to admit her glamorous career began as a happy twist of fate rather than an outcome of careful planning. "If someone had said to me in my acting days I'd become a successful designer, I'd have laughed out loud."
Scraping by on meagre wages, Franks turned her hand to helping out the costume department to earn a little extra cash. While her onstage performances pleased critics, it was these backstage antics that won the rave reviews. "People started asking about the outfits I wore in the productions and then I was making them to order," she explains. "It was more about fashion choosing me than me choosing a life in fashion."
A strong theatrical influence remains in her fashion flair. "I never made it to design school, acting was my teacher and role model."
This refreshingly unconventional foot in the door is something that worked to her advantage. Her collections are dramatic, bursting with detail and have all the attention-grabbing assets one would expect from an ex-performer. Frequently cast in carefree and bohemian parts, the cuts of her clothes follow suit; kaftans, kimonos and peasant-style dresses to fit all frames and ages.
Ever the actress, Franks avoided run-of-the-mill PR stunts to get her noticed in the early days, opting instead for an improvised fashion show in Double Bay. Setting up an alfresco bohemian scene, she clad lithe models in her signature kaftans, whacked on some tribal music then sat back and watched. The stunt paid off. "It was fantastic, the girls were in sheer outfits with very little underneath - it caused a real buzz," she laughs.
With that, the Chinese whispers set off like wildfire with her father eventually pointing out that such a big reaction deserved attention. Her following exhibition was even more of a spectacular; a fully-fledged opera performance at the InterContinental complete with 30 performers and up-and-coming singer Renee Lopez as the star.
Theatre is not her only guiding light. Franks' extensive travels around Postian, Monaco, Antibe and Santorini fuel her creativity and lured beauty giant Elizabeth Arden into collaborating with the designer for their new fragrance Mediterranean. On top of her overseas jaunts, Sydney life continues to spur her on. "It's out of this world, waking up every day and seeing the ocean - it's not hard to feel inspired."
Franks' label may have been on the scene for nearly three years and stocked in boutiques and department stores worldwide, yet her work remains unlike anything else on the market. After being handpicked to attend the Grammy Style Studio where the in-crowd including Vivienne Westwood and Dolce & Gabbana show their creations to Hollywood's finest, she found herself with quite the famous fan base.
"It was so intimidating. There I was, an unknown all the way from Australia smack in the middle of the biggest names in the business."
Her nerves were unfounded. Beyoncé, Shakira and the Pussy Cat Dolls jumped at the chance to model her dresses. When asked about the attraction of her work in Tinsel Town, Franks points out, "My work is such a celebration of colour it definitely stands out on the red carpet."
Far from being another empty vessel in the fashion world, Franks is genuine about the desire to put back into life what she's got out it. "I was out for an early morning jog one grey day and I felt miserable."
Two years into her new line of work and the shallow aspects of the business were taking their toll. She decided to team up with UNIFEM (who raise money for poverty stricken women) to create a 100 per cent non-profit book. Pulling together her 15 favourite photographers - Tony Mott and Robert Rosen for example - and gathering 120 inspirational females from all walks of life - Women of the World was put to print. "It was a four month turnaround - one of the most exhausting things I've ever done, but worth every second."
With her carefree traveller's life well and truly over, Franks still jets around for three to four months of the year but these days it's all work and no play.
"I love the gypsy lifestyle, but I can't really say that now as I spend a lot of time hunched over the computer working."
The coming year looks equally as frantic for the designer who is hoping to introduce swimwear, shoes and other accessories to the label, as well as setting up more Zen stores like her Bondi haven. As for acting, Franks' performances are limited to the rare catwalk bow. Be it stage or runway, this talented Aussie is a class act.
Camilla Franks (02 9130 1430 www.camilla.com.au), 132a Warners Avenue, Bondi (the old Jackie's building).
style@timeoutsydney.com.au