Camilla Franks launched her namesake brand 13 years ago. One of Australia’s leading fashion designers, her sense of escapism is unrivalled, with an instantly recognisable aesthetic that immerses you in faraway worlds.
Her vibrant colours, digital prints, and resort-ready pieces are inspired by her own travel adventures. We speak to Camilla about her life in colour, her dream destinations, and her travel saviours.
What is the first trip you remember taking?
As a young girl, my family and I used to travel to northern Australia, and go on adventures of a lifetime. We’d camp, then wake up at 4 or 5 in the morning to go fishing for the day. In our four-wheel drive, my mum and dad would take us to places like Fraser Island, a natural beauty spot where you’re surrounded by rainforests, sand dunes, and endless beaches. It was a time when there was no chaos in my life; a very simple way of life where you ate what you caught, woke up with the sun, and slept under the stars. We were touched by the beauty of Mother Nature. These are some of the happiest moments with my late brother.
What’s been your most memorable trip and why?
It was when I spent time with the Maasai and the Pokot, some of the oldest tribes in the world. We shared a common language in food, textiles, art, and dance. It awakened my spiritual heart and I felt such joy there. It really changed my design aesthetic too: I was so inspired by the colours, the culture, and the natural beauty, that I’d be coming up with concepts as zebras or elephants slowly walked by. There’s a photo of me coming up with concepts next to a lion, and I even jumped out of a chopper into a croc-infested lake – I’ll do anything for a print! As a creative you have to get uncomfortable to be comfortable, and sometimes that means veering off the beaten path.
Where or what is your escape?
I live a wild, colourful, busy life and sometimes you feel like you’re on a rollercoaster with no way of getting off. My escape is on my yoga mat, doing the downward dog, and meditating. Because I’m so visual I go to other worlds during my 25 minutes a day of meditation. For me, that’s complete escapism.
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What’s the biggest lesson you’ve taken from your travels?
You learn so much from travel: that plans don’t always go as expected, so you have to lean into the madness. That you must love unpredictability, and not let it override you. I’ve also learned to suck the marrow out of every single opportunity and place, to immerse myself into a particular moment and everything it represents. Even when you’re tired. My team says ‘she’s gotta sleep’ and I’ll say “no, I’ve gotta see it all”. Just keep going.
If I could go anywhere tomorrow I’d go to:
Wales, because that’s where my family is, and I miss them desperately. This is the longest time I’ve been away from my daughter. Being a working mum is challenging: you want to be Wonder Woman as a mum, and to the business. Sometimes you can’t do both perfectly so you have to make certain compromises and sacrifices. I’m really looking forward to jumping on a flight to my hometown in Cowbridge, Wales, to be with my hubby and my little girl.
How would you spend an ideal afternoon in your home city?
I live in Woollahra which is 10 minutes from Bondi Beach. My ideal afternoon here would be going to the beach, throwing myself in the ocean, and giving myself a good mermaid scrub with the sand. Then heading to Slow House – my happy place – for five minutes in an ice bath, and half an hour of infrared sauna. Then back home to re-tox with a Margarita (the ying and yang baby!)
What’s your idea of a luxury holiday?
Being forced to do nothing. It’s the luxury of time. As a natural adventurer, I want to explore everything but that can become tiring. I’ve just come back from the Maldives where I stayed at The One and Only and the Waldorf Astoria. The islands are small, so I couldn’t escape to try and work. Instead, I was in the present: it was all about my family, the water, the natural landscapes, and seascapes. For me that’s a luxury.
Where do you get your holiday inspiration?
From wherever I am in the world. If I’m in the UK, it tends to be Europe-focused. If I’m in Australia, it tends to be Asia-focused. I love food, so countries that celebrate food in all its beautiful forms call to me. I’m obsessed with spices and herbs, and if I wasn’t a fashion designer I’d be a really messy chef.
If you could sit next to anyone – dead or alive – on a flight, who would it be?
Asking me to give just one answer is really hard, so I’m going to give you a few. Frida Kahlo: I would spend time in her blue house in Mexico working on my blue house collection. She has always fascinated me – she didn’t have a perfect life but she was perfectly imperfect and had the bravery to celebrate her imperfections through art. That’s something I really admire. Russell Brand: because he’s just awesome. Finally JLo and Beyoncé because I’ve forgotten some of those old-school dance moves, so I feel like choreography on the plane would make the flight a little more entertaining!
How do you recover from jet lag?
There’s something quite fun and quirky about it, and jet lag means you’ve been somewhere amazing. I think you have to lean into it, and ride the waves. Alternatively, get your mermaid on and jump into the ocean. I always try to have something fabulous to come home to; something that keeps me awake, excited, and reminds me that home is the best place on earth.
Your flight’s delayed an hour and your phone’s out of battery. How do you pass the time?
I actually don’t mind when my flights are delayed. Sometimes there are gifts in the imperfection when it comes to travel, and usually I come home with some beautiful travel treasures.
Favourite hotel?
One of my favourites is Villa Cora in Florence, a beautiful hotel born from a love affair. I love the story behind it, the complete opulence and decadence to honour his beloved wife.
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What’s on your travel playlist?
Believe it or not my travel playlist is actually my birthing playlist, so every time my husband hears it, he has PTSD.
Where next?
I’m in love with the Middle East, I can feel something pulling me there.
What are your must-have travel picks?
Lavender oil. It’s something that makes me feel at home, and calms me. I always travel with 5000 lip-glosses. Superga trainers help to get my steps up in a new city. Sometimes I like to go incognito with a big pair of fabulous sunnies, so I can just watch the world around me go by.
FIRST THING THAT COMES TO YOUR MIND…
Hand-luggage essential?
My husband to carry it!
Packing: roll or fold?
Shove and zip 10 minutes before the flight.
Inflight book or inflight film?
I’ve got attention deficit disorder, so books are not my friends.
Music or podcasts?
Music. My husband’s a musician so we’ve got a piano, a harmonica, a banjo, and an electric guitar at home. We come up with shows, and compose music to tell our stories.
Time killer on a long-haul flight?
I’ve always got so much design work to do that for me, flights are time uninterrupted. It’s a space where my phone doesn’t work, so I can focus on coming up with ideas to hand over to the team on landing.
Holiday tipple of choice?
Spicy Margarita.
Bucket list top destination?
Home. I’m never home enough, so this is a holiday in itself.
Best shopping gem found abroad?
Ancient prayer beads that were given to me by a Buddhist monk.
Beach or City?
Beach. I’m a Piscean so a beach near the city is the perfect combo for me. That’s why I live in Sydney.
Ultimate holiday treat?
Massages. I recently got to do sound bath healing on holiday – that was awesome.
Any Questions or Tips to add?