In the last week of December my best friend, who I have known since we’re twelve years old, and I have the tradition to look back to the year.
What has happened? Have we grown? Have we got and achieved what we wanted?
We reflect and analyse – it’s like therapy. But this year we felt like two old men walking through the park, complaining about our aches and pains. We were both just tired and full of body pains, burnt out, even a little bit sad.
One might think that you can’t really have experienced much in 2020. Except for day drinking, hours in social media, watching videos of burning streets, home workouts, gardening and the constant fear of a virus.
However, I feel 10 years older – so many serious things have happened. Our beloved dog has died, Philipp and I have got engaged after almost 9 years of relationship, we have adopted a new furry family member and I have launched FRNKOW with my sister Nadja.
In this order.
I suffered a loss for the first time in my life. One that initially threw me completely off track, much more than I would have ever thought, and that made sure that I wasn’t doing so well for a long time. Lockdowns and civil war-like situations around the world, the constant fear of invisible danger, family arguments, sleepless nights, worrying about money and the things you wanted to do this year.
At the same time, however, there is always the awareness of how fortunate we are and how well we are actually doing. Like a fight in your head between having some bad temper and realizing that these are first world problems.
One thing I have actually achieved, something that makes me extremely proud. It was the first year as creative director of my very own brand.
FRNKOW was founded on January 1st, 2020. We started right away, we had already set up the studio and the first investments have been made. Nadja and I had prepared this start for years and had drawn up a precise plan. In spring everything turned out differently. Not just for us – for the whole world. Of course, we were insecure and didn’t know whether it really made sense to continue. On the one hand, because we didn’t know what to do. What do we do with our interns? Can we order fabrics? Are manufacturers still working? On the other hand, the financial risk: We are financing the label privately through savings and our additional income. We work just to work. And if this work is eliminated, things get complicated. Unfortunately, that was the case at the beginning and we seriously had to consider to stop the processes.
“I couldn’t have dreamed of that great feedback we’ve received in the last two months.”
Obviously, you don’t immediately give up a dream that you have planned for years.
We decided to move on – slower and more differently than planned. More cautious and more independent. We knew that it would not be easy to found a fashion label and so we were prepared for anything – the good thing is, we will never know whether it would have been easier without Corona. Everything happens for a reason, I guess.
I have learned a lot this year. I have learned that the combination of family and business can be tough and that being a boss isn’t as great as you may think it is. I’ve learned that it’s important to have small breaks. That it’s incredibly valuable when you have people you can rely on and that in the end everything turns out more differently than you think.
When we launched in November, it took a great load off our minds. Of course, it all took longer than planned, but the most important thing is that we are happy with the result. I couldn’t have dreamed of that great feedback we’ve received in the last two months. When you see that customers order multiple times because they love the design and quality so much – when you receive hundreds of emails from creative people who would like to work with you because they can identify so well with the brand, when you get a huge feature in an online magazine you have admired for years – you know, you did something right.
There is still so much to learn and I’m looking forward to every lesson. We already have so many plans for the upcoming year. We are already working on the prototypes of the next collection and the FRNKOW Essentials will soon be expanded. The journal is becoming more and more important for us as it’s a great way to form the world of lifestyle we see ourselves in.
On behalf of the whole FRNKOW family, Nadja, Philipp, Ferdi and me I would like to thank you and wish you all the best for 2021.
Happy New Year and please stay healthy.
Love, Frank