Designer Q & A - Daniella Clarke of Frankie B.
Where did you grow up and how has that inspired you as a designer?
I was born in Israel and lived there until I was ten then I spent the rest of my teen years bouncing back and forth between South Africa and the U.S. I definitely think that all the traveling and different cultures that I was exposed to ignited the creative engine in me.
When did you know you wanted to be a designer? Did you know always want to be a designer or were you making your own clothes when you were a teen?
I actually didn’t know until I turned 30. With that being said I always had a passion for fashion. In my teens I started to experiment with my style and my poor mothers closet. I cut up everything that wasn’t nailed down.
Who were your fashion and music idols growing up and how has that influenced you?
My idols in Fashion were Halston and Elsa Klensch. Watching Elsa on Fashion TV every weekend was a whole new level of intoxication for me. I was so inspired by her world that I would run out and buy fabric right after watching the show. Music has always been a huge inspiration for me too especially Mick Jagger and Robert Plant in the 60’s, but in my teens I was obsessed with Prince. Fashion will always be inspired by music because to me musicians represent everyone’s fantasy of freedom and rebellion. Who doesn’t secretly want to be a rock star or at least look like one.
What motivated you to start your own business?
I feel that I as a consumer I found a hole in the market place. At the time there weren’t a lot of choices in premium denim and certainly not any that were cut the way I wanted. After about a year or so of me custom making my own jeans and then making some for friends. The requests by strangers started to happen, pretty soon my living room was overtaken with jeans. I started to realize that this could turn into a business.
How did Frankie B start?
I started Frankie B. in 1999 on my own with $5000. Lord only knows how that happened! I didn’t have a lot of experience in the denim industry but I knew what I liked and what was missing in the stores. To this day I use the same philosophy. I always try to provide the customer with something that’s new and that I would wear. This is a very tough business of deadlines and constant pressure but like anything worth having you have to put in 100%. I’m a pretty strong person that can’t hear ‘No’ I was a one women show in the first year. I designed, sourced, researched, promoted, sold and even hand delivered the product myself. Sometimes I hear people say “wow! You got lucky†but to me Luck is when preparation meets opportunity (I heard someone say that and I believe it).
Frankie b is about to have its 10th year anniversary. If you could bring back a pair of jeans from your first year what pair would it be?
The very first Frankie B. jeans had no back pockets and a slim boot cut. I named them ‘Charlie’. Those would have to be the anniversary jean but with a modern twist.
Why did you want to relaunch Ditto's?
I got involved with Dittos simply because it was a nostalgic project for me. I used to wear Dittos in the Early eighties and was obsessed with them. When the opportunity came up it was a no brainer for me.
You’ve made a limited edition Ditto’s jean for Top Shop. What drew you to the store and are you a Top Shop consumer yourself?
I am a Top Shop junkie. Whenever I'm in London I always stop in and load up on goodies. When the opportunity came up I was thrilled because I always regard Top Shop as always having their finger on the pulse. We developed an exclusive style called 'Johnny Boy' that will only be available at Top Shop.
You are a Dean on “Rock of Love Charm School†with Sharon Osbourne (On VH1) what did you take away from that experience?
Doing Charm School was just pure fun. It took me out of my comfort zone. It's probably something I never would have imagined myself doing.
| Savannah: 22/10/08 |
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