Wo do love our fashion here at GuideMeMalta, and when it comes to accessories, we can never get enough! That's why we've fallen head over heels for Frankly Bold, an indie jewellery label founded by Fran Borg.
A graphic designer by trade, 32-year-old Fran's arty line of jewellery has already been eyed up by magpie fashionistas with a penchant for oversized danglers! We caught up with the label owner herself to find out a little more about her craft. Here's what she had to share with GuideMeMalta.
Hi Fran! We adore your designs! When and how did you decide you wanted to make jewellery and where did you learn how to do so?
"I actually started making jewellery 10 years ago. At the time, I used to make statement pieces using semi-precious stones and metals. My foundation course at college covered jewellery design, so I was fortunate enough to learn the basics then. I eventually fell out of love with the sort of pieces I was creating, purely because I didn't feel that they were quite my style. I still, over the years, made jewellery for my friends and kept getting requests from them and previous clients asking me when I was going to start making jewellery again."
"That's when Frankly Bold came about. Around a year ago, I decided to take it seriously again, and get back to making statement pieces. All I knew was that I wanted to create jewellery that reflected my own personal style. After months of research and trying out various media, I realised that polymer clay suited me better. The possibilities are endless, and the colour choices too. For the first time in a long time, I was really excited to get back into it."
"Polymer clay is quite an unforgiving medium. It took quite a few months (and YouTube videos!) for me to reach a point I was happy with. I also follow loads of Australian designers - as it’s huge there - who work with polymer clay, and they share their experiences with brands, tools, techniques and so on, which I am very grateful for. Instagram is a great tool for social sharing."
It sure is! What does your work entail regarding the design and making process?
"I start off by knowing more or less what I want to achieve. Whether it’s one style of earring or a statement necklace or both. Sometimes I sketch my ideas - but most times I go with the flow. That’s one thing I really love about getting back into jewellery-making.
I then clear out my workspace. I find that working on a surface that’s easy to clean is best. Polymer clay picks up on fibers a lot, so I am constantly making sure the workspace is always clean, even after using different coloured polymer clays."
"Then I work the clay and roll it out. I’ve become quite fond of making coils, so I base a lot of my designs on them. Once I’ve transferred the pieces onto a tray, I then bake them…in a conventional oven! This is followed by drilling and assembling - probably the most satisfying stage as it allows you to see your design come to life."
What is your creative process like and what inspires your work?
"Any unconventional pop of colour or bold design will inspire me. Architecture and minimalist design also play a huge part. I also enjoy receiving feedback and understanding what people are after when it comes to jewellery."
"The creative process is far from constrained. I am still experimenting and trying new things, so I often spend time playing around without necessarily knowing the outcome. This can lead to awesome discoveries, or absolute disasters. However, the most important thing for me is that I’ve learnt something new about the medium I’m working with."
What are your interests and job role outside of jewellery making?
"When I’m not making jewellery, I’m still designing. My day job is in graphic design, and I’ve found that my background has helped me significantly with the launch of Frankly Bold."
Definitely! Where do you sell your products and how do you market them?
"For the moment I am selling my products on Etsy. Last November I had a pop-up at Space for Clay, which fell in line with the launch of the brand. In the future, I’d like to sell my pieces on my own platform, and hopefully in a few local shops."
What are your customers like and what has the feedback been like so far?
"My customers, I would say, are looking for something different. They have an appreciation for design and unusual pieces, and are not scared to experiment. The feedback so far has been very positive. People seem to love the brand, the use of colour and the unusual medium. My favourite feedback is when I'm told it looks like Swedish candy!"
How would you describe the brand and who are your muses? What qualities does the “Frankly Bold Woman” possess?
"Frankly Bold is definitely unapologetic. It’s bold, playful and colourful."
"Camille Walala is a huge inspiration - even in my daily design work. I absolutely adore her use of bold patterns and colour in her artworks. There is such beauty in the way she works and even as a woman, her sense of style evokes many qualities that some of my customers do. The Frankly Bold man or woman is daring by nature. They are curious, quirky and love the colourful things in life. They push boundaries and don’t confine themselves to society’s notion of convention."
Finally, what would you say is the best part of your work?
"Seeing my customers wearing Frankly Bold pieces. Hearing that they make people smile is beyond what I expected from launching the brand. It took me quite some time to feel confident enough to create a brand that represents me so much, and I am very humbled by the feedback and support I’ve received."
Thank You Fran - we can't wait to rock your pieces! See you at your next pop-up shop!