Photographer Quirin Siegert – Fashion Editor Marcello Bona – Talent Frank Lin – Interview by Marco Martello // Total Look Ferragamo // Total Look Frnkow // Total Look Ferragamo
Coat and Tank Top Frnkow – Trousers and Shoes Tiger Of Sweden – Ring Cartier / Total Look Frnkow – Shoes Our Legacy
First things first, what’s your earliest fashion-related memory?
I remember being around six or seven at a wedding. My mum wore this dark blue velvet dress, sleek and very 90’s, paired with a full glam look. I almost didn’t recognise her. Normally, she’s very casual and natural. That moment really stunned me – how radically different someone can appear through clothing. It was like watching her become someone else. She looked like a star. Since then, I’ve always begged her to dress up more often.
Frank, who first instilled a love for fashion in you? Honestly?
No one really did. Definitely, not my parents. I think it was more of an escape. I’ve always been a dreamer, and fashion was this beautiful way of drifting off into something that felt bigger than reality. I was drawn to aesthetics before I even had a word for it.
That being said, when did you realise you wanted to make a living out of this passion?
In the 7th grade, I started my first menswear and photography blog. My big dream was to create a fashion magazine — writing, art direction, photography, styling…I wanted to do it all. Later, while studying fashion design, I realised I really could do it all – with my own brand. That was always the endgame.
Coat and Tank Top Frnkow – Trousers and Shoes Tiger Of Sweden – Ring Cartier / Total Look Frnkow
Going off of this, was your family supportive of you when you told them so?
They were! Even though fashion wasn’t really their world, they’ve always encouraged us to follow our instincts. I think they wanted us to have the kind of freedom they didn’t have. They never pushed me or my sister in any direction – they just supported whatever felt right to us. In 2020, you and your sister Nadja launched a fashion and underwear brand.
Do you remember the goals you set for yourself when you founded FRNKOW?
Of course! The goal was – and still is – to build an empire. Why dream small? We said it halfjokingly at first, but it became our mantra: build something big, something lasting. Even if it starts in a tiny studio. The past few years have been incredibly humbling. Running a brand in times of constant crisis teaches you a lot about patience, resilience – and priorities. But we’re still hopeful. The dream is there, even if the pace sometimes shifts.
Frank, if you were to create a FRNKOW perfume, what would it smell like?
I’d love to do a FRNKOW perfume. It would be warm, herbaceous, and a little mysterious. Think something slightly heavy and dramatic – but in a really intimate way. Like being wrapped in a story rather than just wearing a scent.
Looking back on the past five years, what’s one thing you’d change if you had the chance to? And what’s one thing you’re proud of?
I’m incredibly proud that we’re still here. We launched the brand during COVID-19, and to be honest with you, it has felt like survival mode ever since. But we kept going. If I could change something…maybe, the timing. I should’ve asked for help earlier. Everything we do is self-taught. Sometimes I still feel like a fashion student thinking, ‘What am I even doing?’. But maybe that’s also part of the magic. If I had taken the ‘safe’ route, maybe I’d never have started at all!
Shirt Frnkow
According to the brand’s website, FRNKOW offers minimalistic menswear with a sensual approach. How would you define sensuality?
Sensuality is often confused with sexuality – but to me, it’s something deeper. It’s about presence. Feeling good in your skin. At FRNKOW, we approach sensuality in a quiet, emotional way. Through texture, quality, detail. It’s not loud, it’s intimate. You don’t need to perform it – it’s already there, in the way something feels when you put it on.
Taking a step back and talking about the choice of creating a brand with Nadja, what’s it like working with your sister? And how do you maintain the balance between your personal and professional life?
It’s intense – in the best way possible. There’s a level of trust that’s just unshakable. We tried to separate business and private life at the beginning, but it just didn’t work. And honestly? That’s fine. FRNKOW is our life. We live and breathe it, and that’s what makes it special. It’s a shared dream.
Shirt Frnkow – Trousers and Shoes Tiger Of Sweden – Ring Cartier
Frank, sustainability is one of the most urgent topics in today’s fashion industry. What steps have you taken to ensure ethical production?
Sustainability was never a marketing hook for us – it was just how we wanted to build the brand. Starting from scratch meant we could do things our way. We design and develop everything in our own studio, in small quantities. We work with family-run manufacturers in Germany, Italy and Portugal. For our ready-to-wear collections, we use mostly deadstock fabrics. We also try to create timeless pieces instead of chasing trends – products that feel relevant and beautiful, long after the season is over.
Lastly, what should we expect from FRNKOW in the near future?
After almost five years, it’s time to slow down in order to sharpen the focus. We want to refine the product range and build a more distinctive world around it. Last fall, we opened our first store – a beautiful space that finally brings the brand into the physical sphere. I’d love to expand on that. Our products are made to be touched, to be experienced. They deserve more than just a scroll.