Camilla Franks - Camilla
POSTED 21.04.2010 @ 17:06
Camilla Franks, queen of the kaftan, could quite possibly be one of the most unique designers in the Australian fashion industry. Drawing inspiration from Mother Nature, her designs reflect her theatre background and often showcasing her zany edge through her often chaotic, beautiful and feminine prints. On the eve of Fashion Week, we chat to the designer herself about her upcoming show…
What do you think will be big this year on the catwalks in terms of the big picture?“My shows are always theatrical. I have an acting history, so I’m a frustrated actress [laughs]. Like Galliano, I enjoy creating characters for each individual piece. There will be less walks out and I’ll be concentrating on the overall look. The theatrics play an important role in my shows – everything from the music, the sounds, the smells – I will be releasing a smell within the venue. I believe all senses are to be heightened for the ultimate show. I feel it’s important to stay true to the philosophy behind the brand – and I take into consideration all women’s shapes and sizes.”
Biggest trends for this season and the next?“I don’t do trends. I’ve never look to trends or researched them – I don’t let trends influence my work. Rather, I look to the theatre, to art, to Mother Nature, to art books, to textile books of Tibetan women. Forcasting is not something that I believe in. Too many designers get swept up in this and lose the essence of their brand and uniqueness. They lose their je ne sais quoi.”
Do you think they’ll be any surprises this Fashion Week? “There are always surprises with me, but if I told you what they were, I’d have to kill you. We’ll be working with some big wigs this year, like 20 th Century Fox.”
Who do you think we should watch out for this Fashion Week?“I don’t want to sound pretentious but, this is the year to look out for my label. The amount of time I’ve put into the prints will blow people away. I’ve been in India and I’ve been studying many different finishes and techniques.”
And India, what has that been like? “For me, India is chaos. It’s really mind-blowing. There’s incredible poverty over there, and yet you have women in shanty towns, these amazingly elegant women who love the use of colour. It’s really a place of inspiration.”
How do you feel about some big name designers not participating Fashion Week this year?“Everyone has their own reasons for not participating and each to their own. This year I’m really proud to be showing at Fashion Week – my show needs to be on the catwalk. As a whole, the Australian fashion industry doesn’t have anything to worry about. I think it’s quite okay to have one year on and one year off. It’s very expensive and a lot of work to have a show, so I completely understand why some designers aren’t participating.”
What inspires your work?“Mother nature is a great source of inspiration for me.”
Your greatest challenge this year?“I’m looking at opening up a store overseas in somewhere like Malibu.”
Your biggest achievement to date?“Starting up the label – if you have a successful clothing label, then that’s an achievement in itself.”
Who are your role models? “English fashion designer, Zandra Rhodes – she’s the queen of prints.”
Any tips on what ladies attending Fashion Week should wear?“I think it’s pathetic when people go over the top. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into Fashion Week and I think it just should always be about comfort.”
Check out the full range at
camilla.com.au.