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Lynne Franks

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Lynne Franks
OBE
Picture of Lynne Franks
Franks in 2007
Born (1948-04-16) 16 April 1948 (age 77)
London, England
Known forFounded Lynne Franks PR,
Campaigner for women's issues
RelativesJosh Howie (son),
Jessica Howie (daughter)

Lynne Joanne Franks[1] OBE (born 16 April 1948) is a British communications strategist and writer. She founded Britain's top public relations firm[2][3] 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[4]

Early life

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Franks was born and raised in North London in 1948. The daughter of a Jewish butcher, Franks attended Minchenden Grammar School in Southgate,[5] 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![6]

Career

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Franks initially worked in various secretarial jobs before taking a journalistic role at Petticoat, working under Eve Pollard and alongside Janet Street-Porter.[7] 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

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Franks started Lynne Franks PR. Her first clients included Hamnett's fashion business, Tuttabankem,[8] and Wendy Dagworthy.[9] Working initially from her home, the new agency moved to the Covent Garden area of London.[10] The agency subsequently worked with high street brands including Harvey Nichols and Tommy Hilfiger,[11][12] and represented individuals such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Annie Lennox, Lenny Henry and Ruby Wax.[5][13] Franks PR also worked briefly with the Labour Party in 1986.[14] In October 1993, she stepped down as chairperson[15][16][17] to concentrate on broadcasting.[18] The firm was later renamed Life PR.[2]

London Fashion Week

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In 1984, Franks persuaded the Murjani Corporation (owners of Gloria Vanderbilt jeans) to sponsor a large tent outside the Commonwealth Institute in Kensington[19] so that numerous designers could exhibit in one place, in what is largely considered to be the first London Fashion Week.[20][21][22][23]

Viva and GlobalFusion

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In July 1995, Franks chaired a consortium[24] that launched Viva! 963, Britain's first radio station for women, with Franks herself hosting a twice-weekly interview show entitled Frankly Speaking.[25] 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[26] and helping to launch The Big Issue in Los Angeles.[27]

SEED

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While in California, Franks developed the idea of Sustainable Enterprise and Empowerment Dynamics (SEED).[28]

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,[29] the programme has been delivered through local government agencies, training companies and charities.[30][31][32] In 2009, she launched the SEED Community Site, a social networking website to connect women entrepreneurs around the world.[33]

She was a member of the advisory board for McDonald's in the UK, helping to initiate their Women's Leadership Development Programme[34] and worked with Regus to create and develop the B.Hive network of women's business clubs.[35][36]

V-Day campaign

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Franks was the chair[37] 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.[38]

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.[39]

Books

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In 1997, Franks published her autobiography, Absolutely Now!: A Futurist's Journey to Her Inner Truth,[40] 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.[41][28] Franks later published Grow: The Modern Woman's Handbook[42] and Bloom: A Woman's Journal for Inspired Living.[43]

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It has been claimed[44] 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.[45][46] The claim had been denied by both Franks and Saunders.[47][48] 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."[49]

Personal life

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Franks met her husband, Paul Howie, an Australian fashion buyer and designer, while writing and editing the Freemans clothing stores in-house publications.[50]

In July 2011, Franks was awarded an honorary doctorate from Middlesex University in recognition of her career achievements in business and the media.[51]

Notes

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  1. ^ "New Year's Honours 2018" (PDF). Gov.uk. Government Digital Service. 29 December 2017. p. 28. Retrieved 30 December 2017.
  2. ^ a b Cook, Emma (14 September 1997). "Life without Lynne Franks". The Independent. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  3. ^ Sale, Jonathan (30 April 1997). "PASSED/FAILED: Lynne Franks". The Independent. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  4. ^ "Lynne Franks Fashion & Beauty PR Guru, Creator London Fashion Week". Lynne Franks. Retrieved 8 March 2025.
  5. ^ a b The International Who's Who (2004), p. 561, Europa Publications, UK. ISBN 1-85743-217-7
  6. ^ Sale, Johnathan. "Passed/Failed: Lynne Franks", The Independent on Sunday, UK, 1 May 1997. Retrieved 23 May 2010.
  7. ^ "Teen Magazines - Magforum - Magazines for teenagers". magforum.com.
  8. ^ Retrieved on 27 May 2010. Archived 26 July 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  9. ^ O'Byrne (2009) p. 124.
  10. ^ Franks (1997) p. 16.
  11. ^ Cook, Emma, "Life without Lynne Franks", The Independent, UK, 15 September 1997
  12. ^ Turner, Janice. "Sweetie, Darling, You're a Goddess", The Times, London (UK), 6 March 2004, p. 12.
  13. ^ Dahle, Cheryl. "How to Make your Mark", Fast Company Magazine, (US), 30 November 2000 (Issue 41)
  14. ^ Tyler, Rodney. Campaign!: the selling of the Prime Minister, Grafton, 1987, p. 65. ISBN 0-246-13257-4
  15. ^ Editorial. "PR Doyenne Steps Down in Boardroom Shuffle", The Times, London, 1 October 1993, p. 3.
  16. ^ Leask, Annie. "Absolutely Fabulous PR Lynne Steps Down", Daily Express, London, 30 September 1993, Front Page.
  17. ^ Low, Valentine. "Lynne Franks Quits as the Queen of PR", Evening Standard, London, 30 September 1993, p. 3.
  18. ^ Editorial. "PR Queen Goes", The Independent, London, 1 October 1993, p. 7.
  19. ^ O'Byrne (2009) p. 127.
  20. ^ Alexander, Hilary. "London Fashion Week celebrates its 25th anniversary", The Daily Telegraph, UK, 15 February 2009
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ Kotsoni, Elektra (15 February 2024). "How London Fashion Week began: An oral history". Vogue Business. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  23. ^ Taylor, Alex; Gallagher, Charlotte (17 February 2024). "London Fashion Week: Celebrating 40 years of catwalks". BBC Culture. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  24. ^ Mitchell, Caroline (2000). Women and Radio: Airing Differences, p. 106, Routledge. ISBN 0-415-22071-8
  25. ^ Davidson, Andrew. "That Woman", The Independent, London, 24 June 1995. Retrieved 1 June 2010.
  26. ^ Murphy, Claire. "CSR: Urging Ethical Work", PR Week, UK, 19 April 2002
  27. ^ Anderton, Frances. "Inside Story: LA Story", The Guardian, London, 8 July 1998, p.T8.
  28. ^ a b Byrne, Ciar. "Lynne Franks: Working Woman", The Independent, London, 23 May 2005, p. 4.
  29. ^ Tribal Learning and Skills Catalogue 2008 Archived 9 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  30. ^ Women's Leadership Group Report, Edition 3 Archived 29 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine, The Prince's Trust. Retrieved 15 June 2010.
  31. ^ Offender Learning Services Newsletter Archived 5 December 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  32. ^ Report from The Prince's Trust. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  33. ^ SEED Community Website. Retrieved 24 June 2010
  34. ^ Church, Dawson (2007). Einstein's Business: Engaging Soul, Imagination, and Excellence in the Workplace, p. 68, Elite Books, US. ISBN 1-60070-015-2
  35. ^ Spicer, Kate. "It's good to share", The Sunday Times, London, 4 July 2010, p. 12. (Style Magazine). Retrieved 4 July 2010.
  36. ^ Higgins, Ria. "Relative values: Me and my absolutely fabulous mother", The Sunday Times Magazine, London, 8 August 2010, p. 8.
  37. ^ Rocker, Simon. "Women back protest over Congo atrocities". www.thejc.com. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  38. ^ "Hansard, International Women's Day". 4 March 2010.
  39. ^ "Hansard". 4 March 2010.
  40. ^ Donnally, Trish. "Absolutely Enlightened", San Francisco Chronicle, California, 23 July 1998. Retrieved 2 June 2010
  41. ^ Franks, Lynne (2000). The SEED Handbook: The Feminine Way to Create Business. Jeremy P. Tarcher, UK. ISBN 1-58542-015-8
  42. ^ Franks, Lynne (2004). Grow: The Modern Woman's Handbook – How to Connect with Self, Lovers, and Others, Hay House, UK. ISBN 1-4019-0226-X
  43. ^ Franks, Lynne (2007). Bloom: A Woman's Journal for Inspired Living, Chronicle Books, UK. ISBN 0-8118-5755-7
  44. ^ "Absolutely Fabulous inspiration Lynne Franks gets OBE". BBC News. 6 June 2018. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  45. ^ Martin, Katherine (2001). Women of Spirit: Stories of Courage from the Women Who Lived Them, p. 35, New World Library. ISBN 1-57731-149-3
  46. ^ Tonkin, Cindy (2002). Consulting mastery: the ability myth : when being good is not enough, p. 43, Aragon Gray Pty Ltd. ISBN 978-1-875889-37-2
  47. ^ ""I convinced myself Edina wasn't me"". www.stylist.co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2024.
  48. ^ Lawrence, Janie. "Life's Ab Fab Now, Says the Real Edina – Profile of Lynne Franks", Daily Mirror, London 29 June 1995, p. 31.
  49. ^ https://lynnefranks.com/lynne-franks-fashion-and-beauty
  50. ^ Franks (1997) p. 7.
  51. ^ "Middlesex University Website".

References

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  • O'Byrne, Robert (2009). Style City: How London Became a Fashion Capital, Frances Lincoln Ltd, UK. ISBN 0-7112-2895-7
  • Europa Publications (2004). The International Who's Who 2004, Routledge, UK. ISBN 1-85743-217-7
  • Fraser, Kennedy (1981). The fashionable mind: reflections on fashion, 1970–1981, Knopf, USA. ISBN 0-394-51775-X
  • Franks, Lynne (1997). Absolutely Now!: A Futurist's Journey to Her Inner Truth, Woodstock, Overlook Press. ISBN 0-87951-859-6
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