Home to some of the raddest threads on Insta, Frankie & Taj was founded and created by mum of one, Stacey in 2016.
Known for her laid back style, funky prints and easy to wear shapes; the designer credits her own upbringing as a child of the 80s for influencing her collection. “I’m an 80s kid through and through, and I just love the whole 80s/90s vibe,” she says. “If you look at fashion now it’s all making a comeback, so I’m very much in my element.”
Australian born but raised in neighbouring New Zealand, Stacey has spent her life straddling to the two Pacific Ocean locales. Though Brisbane, Australia is now home, the past five years have seen her and her fiancé live between the two countries. “Since Taj was born, my partner has continued to work away while I raise our son at home.”
Launching her brand was a little stop and start as it grew from an initial desire to make baby change mats while Stacey was pregnant with Taj. “Would you believe it if I told you, while I was six months pregnant I was taking sewing classes,” says Stacey. “Once my son was born, I soon realised that trying to juggle a newborn and start a handmade business just wasn’t possible.” Sure her dreams of handmade success were lost forever, it was only once she was losing sleep that her creative passions were reignited.
“It was 3am one morning and both Taj & I had another night of broken sleeping. Again I was having trouble settling Taj and in a desperate attempt to settle Taj I laid out a swaddle blanket on my bed and I wrapped him. As soon as I wrapped Taj he settled.”
Swaddles became Stacey’s canvas upon which her distinct style first got its debut. “I soon realised that what I wanted wasn’t out there, so with my newborn baby and my new-found love of the swaddle blanket, I decided I’d do something about it,” she says. Frankie & Taj is now the leader in providing unique and on trend printed swaddle blankets for new born babies.
Adding to her creative roster with a collection including t-shirt dresses, tees and shorties for summer and jumper dresses, leggings and rompers for winter, Stacey attributes her design aesthetic to everything she deems entrenched in childhood. “Each design you see has a little something connected to me in some way.” The red lips which feature on certain designs like the 90s Bae t-shirt dress are in the designer’s own words “my trademark”. So what of her current collection, any stand-out pieces?
“I’m in love with all pieces from this collection. My top faves would be the Stay Rad Jumper & You Me & The Sea jumper dress.”
Partnering with a graphic designer, the pair work together to bring Stacey’s ideas to life. But what about bringing them into the public consciousness? “Social media is one platform for getting your brand out there,” Stacey says. “[It] has opened the door for a lot of brands like Franke & Taj. It has made it possible for everyday people like myself to give it a go.” A sentiment that as a mother-cum-business owner the designer asserts as the legacy she hopes precedes her.
“I’m always open to working with other Mums. It’s a great way to meet Mums out there in the world of social media and to also cross promote each other.”
Social media and Instagram specifically have undoubtedly paved the way for a new breed of business owner, particularly where fashion is concerned. Creating a level playing field in terms of accessibility, the likes of Instagram and Etsy have placed the possibility to create and run a brand into the hands of anyone keen to give it a crack. However, as easy as the internet has made it for small businesses, it would be remiss to ignore the challenges that still creep in.
Stacey admits that though she is on the path to her own success and creative fulfilment, the issue of finances has certainly been an obstacle. One of the biggest challenges she’s faced thus far is having her desire to grow her business stunted by lack of financial resources. “I’ve always been an all or nothing kind of gal, so having to have patience and pre-plan every collection to work towards my dream has been challenging at times.”
Offering both exposure and opportunities for networking, Stacey attributes Instagram and its social peers for changing the face of her own social network. “I’m keen to get stuck into collaborations with some other bad ass biz babes,” she says, “having a community of like-minded women hustling away gives me life.”
Arming herself with a healthy dose of self-confidence and belief, as well as the prerogative to pursue her dreams sans #momguilt; the designer says it all comes down to the value you’re prepared to give yourself. “Every now and again I need to stop and appreciate how far I have come in such a short amount of time and with no experience in the kids’ fashion industry.”
Already brewing up ideas for SS18 and AW19, Stacey is five steps ahead in the fashion game so “watch this space!”
“We are currently working on AW19 collection. It’s going to be a small collection of winter staples. So excited I can’t wait to share it all with you.”
Hop online now to shop the AW18 collection. Designs range from sizes 000-4 years, subject to availability. All textiles and fibres are made from organic cotton, free from pesticides and genetic modification.
