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- Francesca Hung Has Launched Inclusive Evening Brand, Frankie Lane, and It’s Delicious
Francesca Hung Has Launched Inclusive Evening Brand, Frankie Lane, and It’s Delicious
Frankie the Label
Ex-Miss Universe and E! Australia Host, Francesca Hung, knows a thing or two about fashion.
“Fashion has always been in the family,” Hung tells POPSUGAR Australia. “My grandfather was a fashion manufacturer in Melbourne back in the day. Every time I wore a nice outfit, he was the first one to notice it and compliment me.”
Hung’s mum, Kerry, worked in the industry too, as a buyer for Myer. And now, the mother-daughter pair have launched their own inclusive evening wear brand; Frankie Lane the Label.
“We were shopping for bridesmaids’ dresses and running into the same problem; we couldn’t find simple, elegant designs that worked for multiple body types,” explains Hung.
Whether it be that someone was pregnant, or had a bigger bust and wanted to wear a bra underneath, Hung and her mum were struggling to find a local Australian brand that could cater to all body types and preferences.
“Especially when it comes to a timeless, elegant design; so many of our most popular Australian designers only go up to a size 12-14,” Hung says.
And she can’t count the number of times that she’s put on something fabulous for work and her mum has said “I wish they made things like that in my size”.
“I totally acknowledge that I’m a size eight,” says Hung, “so I haven’t been personally exposed to the lack of diversity in Australian fashion. But my mum has.”
“She’s often been told in stores that they don’t stock her size, so she can’t try it on. It’s definitely disheartening, especially when you have such a love for beautiful garments.”
With a focus on their favourite type of fashion — simple, classy and timeless — Frankie the Label is an eveningwear brand that the duo hope will produce designs that can be treasured for many years.
“Mum has beautiful silk dresses from 20-years-ago, that are still as relevant and gorgeous as when she bought them.”
They’ve already showcased this with The Delphi ($295), a silk, lemon evening dress that was inspired by Kate Hudson’s infamous yellow dress in “How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”.
“That dress is still as divine now as it was when that film came out a decade ago!” says Hung, and she’s totally right.
Who wouldn’t want to wear that dress? It’s delicious.
As a brand, Frankie the Label will also be focusing on slow fashion — with all designs made in Sydney and releasing only a few pieces a year — as well as utilising sustainable materials and packaging.
“We’ve always wanted to bring our passion for beautiful clothing together and create something,” says Hung, speaking of her and her mum, Kerry. “It just felt right to do it now.”
You can shop the full range from Frankie Lane the Label here.
