Lynne Franks

Lynne Joanne Franks<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Template:Post-nominals (born 16 April 1948) is a British communications strategist and writer. She founded Britain's top public relations firm<ref name=":2">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> in the early 1970s and worked with many British fashion brands. Later, she launched a women's radio station and worked on women's leadership initiatives. Franks is considered to be the instigator of London Fashion Week, when she proposed one marquee for numerous designers to exhibit in one place. Frank is also rumoured to be the inspiration for the charter Edina in British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Early life

Franks was born and raised in North London in 1948. The daughter of a Jewish butcher, Franks attended Minchenden Grammar School in Southgate,<ref name="whoswho2004">The International Who's Who (2004), p. 561, Europa Publications, UK. Template:ISBN</ref> leaving at the age of 16. She completed a shorthand typing course at Pitman's College and was a regular dancer on the popular music TV programme Ready Steady Go!<ref>Sale, Johnathan. "Passed/Failed: Lynne Franks", The Independent on Sunday, UK, 1 May 1997. Retrieved 23 May 2010.</ref>

Career

Franks initially worked in various secretarial jobs before taking a journalistic role at Petticoat, working under Eve Pollard and alongside Janet Street-Porter.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Following a brief period as a PR assistant and at the encouragement of the fashion designer Katharine Hamnett, Franks started her own PR agency at the age of 21.

PR firm

Franks started Lynne Franks PR. Her first clients included Hamnett's fashion business, Tuttabankem,<ref>Retrieved on 27 May 2010. Template:Webarchive</ref> and Wendy Dagworthy.<ref name="O'Byrne-p.124">O'Byrne (2009) p. 124.</ref> Working initially from her home, the new agency moved to the Covent Garden area of London.<ref>Franks (1997) p. 16.</ref> The agency subsequently worked with high street brands including Harvey Nichols and Tommy Hilfiger,<ref>Cook, Emma, "Life without Lynne Franks", The Independent, UK, 15 September 1997</ref><ref>Turner, Janice. "Sweetie, Darling, You're a Goddess", The Times, London (UK), 6 March 2004, p. 12.</ref> and represented individuals such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Annie Lennox, Lenny Henry and Ruby Wax.<ref name="whoswho2004" /><ref name="fastcompany2000">Dahle, Cheryl. "How to Make your Mark", Fast Company Magazine, (US), 30 November 2000 (Issue 41)</ref> Franks PR also worked briefly with the Labour Party in 1986.<ref>Tyler, Rodney. Campaign!: the selling of the Prime Minister, Grafton, 1987, p. 65. Template:ISBN</ref> In October 1993, she stepped down as chairperson<ref>Editorial. "PR Doyenne Steps Down in Boardroom Shuffle", The Times, London, 1 October 1993, p. 3.</ref><ref>Leask, Annie. "Absolutely Fabulous PR Lynne Steps Down", Daily Express, London, 30 September 1993, Front Page.</ref><ref>Low, Valentine. "Lynne Franks Quits as the Queen of PR", Evening Standard, London, 30 September 1993, p. 3.</ref> to concentrate on broadcasting.<ref>Editorial. "PR Queen Goes", The Independent, London, 1 October 1993, p. 7.</ref> The firm was later renamed Life PR.<ref name=":2" />

London Fashion Week

In 1984, Franks persuaded the Murjani Corporation (owners of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans) to sponsor a large tent outside the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington<ref>O'Byrne (2009) p. 127.</ref> so that numerous designers could exhibit in one place, in what is largely considered to be the first London Fashion Week.<ref>Alexander, Hilary. "London Fashion Week celebrates its 25th anniversary", The Daily Telegraph, UK, 15 February 2009</ref><ref>Brown, Annie. "The Frock & Rolly Years; London Fashion Week celebrates quarter of a century of cutting-edge style, stars and controversy", Daily Record, 18 February 2009, p. 30. Retrieved 22 June 2010.</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Viva and GlobalFusion

In July 1995, Franks chaired a consortium<ref>Mitchell, Caroline (2000). Women and Radio: Airing Differences, p. 106, Routledge. Template:ISBN</ref> that launched Viva! 963, Britain's first radio station for women, with Franks herself hosting a twice-weekly interview show entitled Frankly Speaking.<ref>Davidson, Andrew. "That Woman", The Independent, London, 24 June 1995. Retrieved 1 June 2010.</ref> Following the publication of her autobiography in 1997, Franks moved to California, and formed GlobalFusion, a cause-related marketing agency, working to promote environmentally-friendly fashion and cosmetic brands<ref>Murphy, Claire. "CSR: Urging Ethical Work", PR Week, UK, 19 April 2002</ref> and helping to launch The Big Issue in Los Angeles.<ref>Anderton, Frances. "Inside Story: LA Story", The Guardian, London, 8 July 1998, p.T8.</ref>

SEED

While in California, Franks developed the idea of Sustainable Enterprise and Empowerment Dynamics (SEED).<ref name=":0">Byrne, Ciar. "Lynne Franks: Working Woman", The Independent, London, 23 May 2005, p. 4.</ref>

In collaboration with Tribal Education, Franks developed the SEED Women into Enterprise Programme, a blended learning course for self-employment. Aimed particularly at women from disadvantaged communities around the UK,<ref>Tribal Learning and Skills Catalogue 2008 Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 15 June 2010.</ref> the programme has been delivered through local government agencies, training companies and charities.<ref>Women's Leadership Group Report, Edition 3 Template:Webarchive, The Prince's Trust. Retrieved 15 June 2010.</ref><ref>Offender Learning Services Newsletter Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 14 June 2010.</ref><ref>Report from The Prince's Trust. Retrieved 17 June 2010.</ref> In 2009, she launched the SEED Community Site, a social networking website to connect women entrepreneurs around the world.<ref>SEED Community Website. Retrieved 24 June 2010</ref>

She was a member of the advisory board for McDonald's in the UK, helping to initiate their Women's Leadership Development Programme<ref>Church, Dawson (2007). Einstein's Business: Engaging Soul, Imagination, and Excellence in the Workplace, p. 68, Elite Books, US. Template:ISBN</ref> and worked with Regus to create and develop the B.Hive network of women's business clubs.<ref>Spicer, Kate. "It's good to share", The Sunday Times, London, 4 July 2010, p. 12. (Style Magazine). Retrieved 4 July 2010.</ref><ref>Higgins, Ria. "Relative values: Me and my absolutely fabulous mother", The Sunday Times Magazine, London, 8 August 2010, p. 8.</ref>

V-Day campaign

Franks was the chair<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> of V-Day UK, a charity created by Eve Ensler, which campaigns to end violence against women and girls. In March 2009, Franks organised a Women of Influence Lunch at the House of Lords, to draw attention to the campaign.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The following November, Franks organised the Great Congo Demonstration at the Royal Albert Hall calling for an end to the systemic sexual violence against women in the region.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Books

In 1997, Franks published her autobiography, Absolutely Now!: A Futurist's Journey to Her Inner Truth,<ref name=":1">Donnally, Trish. "Absolutely Enlightened", San Francisco Chronicle, California, 23 July 1998. Retrieved 2 June 2010</ref> describing Franks' emotional and spiritual journey since leaving the world of PR, including her spiritual experiences at locations such as the Findhorn Foundation in Scotland and the Esalen Institute in California and her ideas on feminism, environmental issues and ethical business practices.

In 2000, Franks published the principles for SEED (Sustainable Enterprise and Empowerment Dynamics) inThe SEED Handbook: The Feminine Way to Create Business.<ref>Franks, Lynne (2000). The SEED Handbook: The Feminine Way to Create Business. Jeremy P. Tarcher, UK. Template:ISBN</ref><ref name=":0" /> Franks later published Grow: The Modern Woman's Handbook<ref>Franks, Lynne (2004). Grow: The Modern Woman's Handbook – How to Connect with Self, Lovers, and Others, Hay House, UK. Template:ISBN</ref> and Bloom: A Woman's Journal for Inspired Living.<ref>Franks, Lynne (2007). Bloom: A Woman's Journal for Inspired Living, Chronicle Books, UK. Template:ISBN</ref>

Popular culture

It has been claimed<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> that the character Edina Monsoon in the British sitcom Absolutely Fabulous, created by Jennifer Saunders, a former client of Franks, was intended to be a satirised version of Franks during this period.<ref>Martin, Katherine (2001). Women of Spirit: Stories of Courage from the Women Who Lived Them, p. 35, New World Library. Template:ISBN</ref><ref>Tonkin, Cindy (2002). Consulting mastery: the ability myth : when being good is not enough, p. 43, Aragon Gray Pty Ltd. Template:ISBN</ref> The claim had been denied by both Franks and Saunders.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Lawrence, Janie. "Life's Ab Fab Now, Says the Real Edina – Profile of Lynne Franks", Daily Mirror, London 29 June 1995, p. 31.</ref> However, in March 2025, Franks acknowledged on her own website that "her crazy lifestyle was the inspiration for the character Edina Monsoon when her friend and client Jennifer Saunders came up with Absolutely Fabulous although, insists that her real life at this time was even more bizarre! Lynne also represented Edina's favourite store, Harvey Nichols."<ref>https://lynnefranks.com/lynne-franks-fashion-and-beauty</ref>

Personal life

Franks met her husband, Paul Howie, an Australian fashion buyer and designer, while writing and editing the Freemans clothing stores in-house publications.<ref>Franks (1997) p. 7.</ref>

In July 2011, Franks was awarded an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University in recognition of her career achievements in business and the media.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

References

• O'Byrne, Robert (2009). Style City: How London Became a Fashion Capital, Frances Lincoln Ltd, UK. Template:ISBN
• Europa Publications (2004). The International Who's Who 2004, Routledge, UK. Template:ISBN
• Fraser, Kennedy (1981). The fashionable mind: reflections on fashion, 1970–1981, Knopf, USA. Template:ISBN
• Franks, Lynne (1997). Absolutely Now!: A Futurist's Journey to Her Inner Truth, Woodstock, Overlook Press. Template:ISBN

External links

• Lynne Franks' personal website
• Template:IMDB name
• The SEED Network
• The SEED Community Site
• V-Day UK