There is Camilla and there is Camilla.
One is King Charles 111’s wife and his queen. The doyenne of the dowdy. Some say. And the other is the Australian one. The doyenne of the very opposite of dowdy. The fashion designer is famous for her hand-cut and hand-sewn wearable artwork and eccentric color palettes juxtaposed against innovative prints inspired by her travels.
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Camila Franks is the Queen of billowy silk kaftans. Twice a year, the Founder and Creative Director of the forever disruptive, determinedly non-dowdy and quite unmistakable Camila Brand, which launched in 2004.
My prints have become a diary of my travels. A poetic collision of imagery and personal experiences. Travel truly is the best muse. A treasure hunt that I want to play time and time again. Each trip is a whirlwind of immersing and learning, celebrating the beautiful patchwork that humans and Mother Earth weave together.
Travel is now the cornerstone of the brand.
Popular print design ranges include Dominican Decadence, Al Manial Palace Memories, Egyptian Rose, Sweet Home Alexandria, Kissed By A Cobra, Sunrise in Sintra, Baroque Around The Clock, Basked in Baroque, Nubian Wonderland, and Rococo Glow. As well as names like Venus On A Vespa, and Ready For My Welcome Drink.
Inspirations range from palaces, postcards, stamps, festivals, tilework, and even sardine cans! Every design is an ode to wanderlust.
There are twenty-five CAMILLA Boutiques worldwide (22 in Australia and 3 in the US). The latest collection includes a hardware silk Maxi Dress with a gathered neckline, which celebrates the vivid contrasts of Igreja Matriz De Santa Maria. Painterly prints reflect their dynamic artistry, steeped in timeless energy and color.
Kimonos, jackets, and dresses are inspired by Portugal’s Palace of Queluz. And there is a Welcome To The Lotus” range.
Born in Sydney, Camilla’s mother was a model-turned-fashion buyer and stylist, and her father was an architect and artist. Frank worked in events planning, advertising, and acting, creating costumes out of old saris and kimonos. Her mother and grandmother loved kimonos and kaftans. Her influences include Vivienne Westwood, Frida Kahlo, and Carla Zampatti.
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The brand started small out of Bondi Beach but grew quickly. I had no formal training in fashion or business. I’m entirely self-taught through navigating every touchpoint mostly on my own. I was this barefoot Bondi bohemian schlepping my designs worldwide. I am my younger self’s loudest cheerleader! Memories of my travels subconsciously weaved themselves into my designs. A tiled wall in India, a tablecloth in Greece, a vase in Vietnam.
Travel isn’t just a visual experience; it’s sights, sounds, flavors, aromas, and sensations. I started to further explore how I could intertwine travel as a storytelling medium through my prints and designs. Each season, we set off somewhere new to fully immerse ourselves with the intention of transporting our customers there.
I hope my designs bring a sense of wonder to those who wear our designs and foster a community of people who choose to feel and exude kindness and joy. My inspirational trip to Africa was life-changing and invigorated my soul. Travel fuels my imagination. I can come back with 20,000 photos and hundreds of artefacts –from textiles and traditional jewellery to sculptures and art. The challenge is infusing each print with a part of the story: a narrative about the destination and the adventure.
India is almost my second home. But I am fond of Spain too. My El Duende Collection’s Flamenco Sweet was inspired by flamenco gypsies and a state of heightened emotion or expression, often connected to flamenco dancing/
The kaftan is like a canvas for me to sing the songs of my travels in vibrant color, embellishment, and print placement detail. Nowadays, my collection has grown into many more styles and silhouettes, as well as swimwear, menswear, kidswear, and home designs like bed quilts. But travel represents the very essence of me. I seek beauty, colour, people and communities, vibrancy and fun to bring into each print story.
