Remember last week when I had my whinge about missing the Konstantina sale? Well fashion karma has come my way in the form of Francis Leon, a young design duo I discovered while at shopping at The Tribune, a boutique dedicated to the emerging fashion scene in Brisbane. The pieces that were on the rack were part of their graduate collection but but because it wasn’t the complete collection it was a bit difficult to get a solid understanding of the label’s aesthetic. But with little bit of investigating, and a great conversation with Katy and Jo, the girls behind Francis Leon (and which we’ve edited for this post), I have negotiated the look book to the second collection.
Canvas: What’s the history behind Francis Leon?
Jo and I went to school together and after graduating pursued own own paths in fine arts, design and graphics. It was 7 years later and after running into each other in Melbourne we discussed starting a label together based in Brisbane. The timing was perfect as Jo was only months away from graduating from Fashion Fine Arts at QUT, and soon I made the move back from Melbourne to start the business and design partnership that is Francis Leon.
How did you decide on the label name?
We wanted a name that wasn’t gender specific and as it doesn’t reference us specifically it gives a nice feel of anonymity, making the focus the design rather than the designer. It gave the right connotations for the labels aesthetic of unique womenswear.
How would you describe the Francis Leon aesthetic?
The Francis Leon aesthetic has an emphasis elegance and femininity with a gutsy edge. Our clothes are well fit, structured and paneled so the focus isn’t on elaborate decoration – it’s all in the tailoring and details.
Are there any designers, local or international, that you feel influence your design?
Not really, we try and create something unique beyond current trends in fashion. Francis Leon influences are varied but feed back from our target market and the art history are our most strongest influences. The current collection is influenced by the art and architecture of the Italian futurists of the early 1900s.
Now I get it. The style is met with masculine overtones, a touch of feminine expression and a careful nod to nostalgia. While there are occasional subtle references to current ideas, like the exposed zips and the cutaway shapes, ultimately the girls have created a style that is very much their own.
