Exclusive interview with Elisabetta Franchi – The story of one of the most successful and stylish Italian woman who is the founder and the soul of the brand. It is the story of a woman who, with her style and her creativity has managed to conquer the world. June 25th, 2018
Elisabetta Franchi is an Italian designer, owner of a pragmatic approach to the fashion industry, a total dedication to creativity and ambition for uncompromising quality.
How did you come to found your fashion label Elisabetta Franchi? What were the drivers behind it and what was your original vision for the brand?
Fashion is in my DNA. It’s a passion, instinct, and a desire to dress all women in the world. It was my dream since childhood when I used to dress my dolls, and now I’ve realized it. I come from a humble family and, thanks to my determination, passion, and talent, I created a company from scratch without losing sight of my goal.
Now, my brand sits just below the ‘first lines’, taking the market segmentation of the premium luxury brands. I am a rare bird in the fashion system. It is a really hard job, where you need a lot of hard work and devotion, but I know that there is no other way to achieve success in this business.
How did you come to found your fashion label Elisabetta Franchi? What were the drivers behind it and what was your original vision for the brand?
Fashion is in my DNA. It’s a passion, instinct, and a desire to dress all women in the world. It was my dream since childhood when I used to dress my dolls, and now I’ve realized it. I come from a humble family and, thanks to my determination, passion, and talent, I created a company from scratch without losing sight of my goal.
Now, my brand sits just below the ‘first lines’, taking the market segmentation of the premium luxury brands. I am a rare bird in the fashion system. It is a really hard job, where you need a lot of hard work and devotion, but I know that there is no other way to achieve success in this business.
Exclusive Interview from Annika with Elisabetta Franchi
Why Marbella?
Because Marbella is spectacular and beautiful. Puerto Banús fantastic and there is not such a beautiful port in Italy and of course for its glamour.
Italian women are very similar to Spanish women with a strong character, very Latin-influenced and sensual.
After so many years how do you manage to keep your brand so unique and sensual?
When I think about the woman in general, I think about sexy women and very feminine this is what keeps me working. Plus is my biggest attraction
What would you recommend to a woman wearing her design to look sexier?
It’s important to be sexy but not aggressive, always in a sexual way, nothing exaggerated or unrefined.
Who is the sexiest woman in the world for Elisabetta?
Angelina Jolie, because she is beautiful, refined and sexy.
And in regards to Spain? who would be your sexiest woman?
Almost all women in Spain, there are many I would pick from, basically, all celebrities use my designs so it would be wrong just to choose only one.
How many years have elapsed since you first started working hard to achieve the fame you own now? Since it’s easier now for your brand.
We have always been moving up, it’s a continuous process.
But we believe is easier now for your brand?
Is not easier now, is even more complicated due to the continuous goals that we often confront, there’s always a feeling of overcoming past designs and be better, besides the level of demand of the world market get much bigger and competitive. We can never stand idly there’s always an ongoing work and efforts. There are six fashion collections per year so there is a lot of activity always.
What makes you happy?
Well, complete happiness does not exist for me, happiness is an emotional state. If you have good values inside, if you have a balance, your house, your children, your partners, then it’s perfect
What do you wish for the clients that buy your designs?
That they feel alive, beautiful and sensual. Every time I see women wearing a design of mine it takes my breath away.
Elisabetta Franchi has been growing in popularity in recent years, as more and more celebrities worldwide – from Eva Longoria and Kendall Jenner to Angelina Jolie – have been seduced by the feminine lines and sensuality of the prestigious Italian designer.
How has the business grown and expanded to get to where it is today?
From the very beginning, 20 years ago, the brand has grown and repositioned itself, all the while still guaranteeing that all products are ‘Made in Italy’ at affordable prices.
What were the first steps you took in world fashion?
I actually started by dressing my dolls. After the dolls, I dedicated a small space to making clothes, where I would focus on tailor-made items.
How would you describe your brand?
Ultra-feminine and very sensual.
How has your work evolved since you started your label?
There weren’t many changes. I can tell you that I started small and became bigger. All the steps I took were big ones that were quite important for the brand.
What does style mean to you?
Everything that is elegant and never vulgar!
Who are some of the other designers you admire?
There’s only one! Dolce & Gabbana! They are so feminine and I see myself a lot in their designs.
Best advice you would give to women on style and fashion?
Never be vulgar and show too much. It is possible to be chic and very sexy without being vulgar!
Your advice to young fashion designers starting their label?
Always be current while remaining true to your style.
If you could have one celebrity spokesmodel, who would it be?
I do not like to associate my brand with a celebrity. Every woman that wears my clothes shouldn’t have to be celebrities. They should see themselves within the brand. However, if I had to choose, I would say Megan Fox. She is so feminine and such an amazing woman in every aspect. I am also really fond of Amal Alamuddin. She is charming, chic and glamorous!
Nowadays my most beautiful sexy and an icon is Angelina Jolie, she is very sexy and with a strong sexabilty woman and with strong energy to keep doing what she does and reach to the top.
Elisabetta Franchi Biography
Elisabetta Franchi story started in 1968 Bologna Italy. Where she was born in big five children family, her mother struggled hard to raise their children since her Father was distanced from family. She made her debut in fashion during her studies at Bologna’s Instituto Aldrovandi Rubbiani.
She always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer and her hard work has paid off, Elisabetta Franchi opened her first workshop in 1996 Le Complici. There, she began to give shape to her ideas and fashion her first creations, following her instinct and with only 5 people to help her. Now they are over 150. In 1998 she founded Betty Blue S.p.a to fashion the CELYN b collection, a name that resonates with the unmistakable Paris style and where the letter b stands for “Betta”, short for the designer’s name. The style is quite clear and stands out for its extremely feminine urban chic mood, with curvy fits and impeccable silhouettes. These two features are the brand’s strong suit until today.
In Recent Times
Elisabetta Franchi is known for being extremely down-to-earth, she works hard, laughs a lot and puts her family first. Today, she owns 70 of her own stores with a total of 157 employees. At this point, she is making two-thirds of her total revenue overseas – she, therefore, wants to expand.
Elisabetta Franchi offers different lines of clothing, accessories, bags, and shoes. The brand is present in around 60 mono-brand boutiques in numerous locations around the world.
The designer’s other passion is to protect all creatures great and small. Elisabetta Franchi hasn’t just made her mark on the fashion world, she is also working hard on her other passion — to defend the rights of animals. ‘’Dogs help me in everything and give me inspiration. I told my employees that they could take their dogs to work and they took my word for it’’.
However, Elisabetta takes her job very seriously and is extremely tough when it comes to business. However, at the same time, she is a loving wife and mother to her family. “I have fought hard, to be able to live such a blissful and loving private life with my family. The family is everything“ she says.
The designer is known for being a workaholic. Whilst pregnant with daughter Ginevra, she kept on working until one day before giving birth. Because of complications during her pregnancy with her son Leone, she was forced to lie in bed for about a month: „That made me go crazy!“ she says. Therefore, right after giving birth, she let her assistant bring in sketches and other documents into the hospital.
About Elisabetta Franchi’s Family
Unfortunately, her first husband died when Elisabetta was 39 years old so she had to work hard and managed to bring the company success, whilst also having to take care of their daughter all by herself.
Her current husband’s name is Alan, “We were once together during our twenties” she reveals. “Back then I broke up with him. I found him too immature.” However the second time around, it was true love.
With Alan’s daughter Martina (named Marty) and Ginevra (named Gingy), Elisabetta now has a happy patchwork family that fills the house with two things that are so much more beautiful than any interior design accessory: love and laughter.
Elisabetta Franchi Puerto Banus Boutique
Address: Muelle Ribera 10,
Puerto Banus, 29660 Marbella
Telephone: 951 435 016
Alta Moda webshop: https://www.altamoda.shop/en/
Official Website: http://www.elisabettafranchi.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elisabettafranchi
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elisabettafranchi/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bettafranchi
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