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JUDITH  FRANKLAND bio by Richard Gilles

Judith Frankland, a through and through Geordie talent… Her adventures started back in the mid seventies when the then glam rock girl – Judith was a Roxy Music girl, not a Bowie fan - and her beloved Bernina, a present from her parents, moved from the Lake district to Newcastle to do a foundation course. There she discovered her one and only true love, punk, lost her virginity to a rock star in pure Judith style and got accepted in the Fashion Department of Ravensbourne Art College. There her best pal was Michelle from Brigandage: they used to hang around with Siouxie, the Clash, the Chislehurst lot and skip knitting lessons… By the time of her final year at college, she was best friend with Steve Strange and Steven Jones who designed the hats for her final year collection. The clerical style evening gowns were modelled by Francesca von Thyssen and made the central spread of Donna Magazine. What was the real inspiration behind those dresses? The nuns from the Sound of Music, Judith’s favourite movie of all times, no less! Marie Helvin, the first supermodel, noticed her incredible talent, and offered to write an introduction letter to Karl Lagerfeld: Judith declined the offer, as she was too busy having fun at the time. Blitz, Hell… Let’s get the records straight: Judy’s handbag didn’t contain the Blitz’s receipts when Boy George stole it and Steve Strange was awfully drunk during the filming of “Ashes to ashes”… Judith and her Bernina couldn’t keep steady for too long: Judith moved to Vancouver for a couple of years. She really enjoyed it but the scene was a bit quiet for her own taste. She moved back to London, met her husband Luciano and moved to Milan to become the diva of Italian nightlife: she hosted parties for the likes of Giorgio Armani, Roberto Cavalli, Seal, Dee Lite, in company of Ru Paul and Leigh Bowery amongst other friends and celebrities. By the mid 90’s, the marriage had become very rocky. Judith and her Bernina moved to glitzy LA where she went back to her passion: fashion that is! With Amy Dresner, she launched the “Nice Nelly” line, which was warmly welcome by Californian fashionistas. After a couple of very successful seasons in Paris where their new label “Frankland Dresner” was noticed by fashion gurus like Florence Deschamps and Diane Pernet, and sold in Tokyo stores like Isetan and Beams, Judith decided to move back to Whitley Bay… The fashion world is looking forward to the return of the punk queen! Richard Gilles www.fascineshion.com

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