Style Birmingham

With more than 25 years experience in the fashion industry, Caryn Franklin first shot to fame on the small screen as one of the lead presenters of the BBC’s Clothes Show. Through her TV work, which also includes regular appearances on GMTV and This Morning, she has interviewed couture’s greatest from Giorgio Armani to Yves Saint Laurent. A mum of two – Mateda, 16, and Roseby, nine – she is now renowned know for her decade of campaigning on behalf of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer and is also a patron of the Eating Disorders Association. Style Birmingham caught up with her exclusively as she appeared at Birmingham’s Harvey Nichols to host a fashion evening raising funds for The Prince’s Trust.

1: How long have you worked in fashion and how did you start? I started in 1982 at the age of 22. I worked for i-D magazine, first as a graphic designer but moved through fashion editing and then co-editing. It was like being part of a family and I still write for i-D 28 years later.

2: Was it something you wanted to do as a child? As I child, I wanted to be a teacher and write “see me” in everyone’s books. As a teenager I fancied my chances in the army. I didn’t have any role models in creative posts – my dad was a civil engineer. My mum used to wear flowers in her hair and make her own clothes so that must have done it.

3: How did you get your first break into TV?: I researched for a show called Swank on Channel 4 in 1984 when I was fashion editor at i-D. The presenter was ill one day and I just stepped in. But it was a break into TV as such. I did a lot of television while I was working at i-D, but The Clothes Show, which started in 1986, was a good career move.

4: The Clothes Show was the first style programme on TV, how did it feel to be involved with such an iconic series? To be honest I wasn’t going to do it. But my publisher thought it would be a good thing as long as I had the i-D title under my name every time I appeared on screen. So that’s what happened for the first two years. Then I made the decision to work full time on the show.

5: These days there are a lot more TV series highlighting the industry, from Ten Years Younger to Project Catwalk – are you a fan of them? How have they evolved from The Clothes Show? The Clothes Show was about industry news and the analytical assessment of fashion. It had a broad remit and as a journalist I’m proud of that. Current shows are much more make-over lead and even sometimes unkind to the women who feature. That ain’t my bag.

6: Who are your favourite designers and why? Vivienne Westwood. She is great to interview and has such a strong character both as a woman and a designer. I have her clothes dating back from the early eighties including two pairs of bondage strides from her’s and Malcolm McClaren’s personal collection. I also love Gareth Pugh and I’m predicting great things for this new British Designer.

7: During you career, which designer did you most enjoy interviewing and why? Gosh, that’s hard. Georgio Armani is a charmer – I have a lovely written thank you from him. While Yves Saint Laurent was a fashion moment. I’ve made a documentary about Vivienne so I loved interviewing her because she is very compelling. But I love interviewing student designers just as much, I love their passion.

8: What would you consider to be your biggest fashion faux pas? Mmmmm … I once wore a leather coat and high heels to a bondage party with no underwear on underneath. It was cold on the way home. Was that too much information?

9: What have been the biggest changes you have seen in the fashion industry? Huge moves around sustainable fashion. I am ambassador of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at The London College of Fashion, where I am also an external assessor. It will be the new generation of designers who turn this oil tanker around.

10: Where do like to shop and why? I love Vivienne’s shop and am often there during the sales to snatch up a bargain. I have some great things from ethical designers like Still and Junky Styling. When it comes to shoes, I’m a Georgina Goodman fan.

11: What item of clothing do you reach for when you need to feel great? I love a great pair of heels and add a bit of Sally Hansen’s Leg Foundation to make me feel glam.

12: What does style mean to you? Effortlessly dressing in harmony with the message you want to put out about yourself and that is supportive of your body and its shape. I don’t pander to trend frenzy.

13: You are working a lot on plus size fashion, with Simply Be and Marisota, what has drawn you to this area of the industry? I work a lot with curvy women who feel unsure about how trends can work for them. I have enjoyed creating collections that use features to streamline the body rather than trends for the sake of trends.

14: Away from fashion, you are also associated with raising awareness of eating disorders and breast cancer – why have these become particularly passions? Both are women-centric charities and both relate to health and image in some way. I know the fashion industry is a powerful communicator to women about lots of issues and besides selling clothes it can offer a pro-active space for awareness and fundraising. Fashion Targets Breast Cancer has proved this.

15: What’s on your fashion hit list for SS09? I’m loving my studded flat sandals by Ash worn with crepe harem pants from Liquorish.