We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Frankie Sanchez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Frankie below.
Alright, Frankie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
I am definitely happier as a creative, though I do have my moment of “Gosh what did I get myself into???”. The last time I had a what if I had a regular job moment was recent. It’s my last semester at Jefferson, so that question of “what’s next?” and “who do you wanna work for?” is plaguing me. Everyone always has such high expectations of me and it can get pretty overwhelming. On my commute home, the thought crossed my mind. What if I hadn’t pursued fashion all those years ago? Where would I be? WHO would I be? Honestly, it scared me. My whole life has been about fashion and it’s led me to who I am today. I’ve been able to tell my story, hardships, and express my true self with my work? In a way it’s therapeutic to be able to share my story, to share my love for clothes for those who need self expression. If I didn’t have that or myself today, I can truthfully say I don’t know where I would be. Being a creative person can be tiring point blank period. Going through prototypes, the conceptual stages, the patterns and presentations it’s all tough work especially when it’s solely you. However, it’s those parts that I love doing what I do and so much more that’s to come in the future.
Frankie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
First thing first, my name is Frankie A. Sanchez and I am a fashion designer. I’ve sewing since I was around 4-5 years old which sounds crazy but is very much true. I hated the clothes my dolls would have on, they never matched my style, so I would hide their clothes and make them new ones out of felt and ribbon. My mom saw how engrossed I was when it came to fashion, it was more than just putting on a tutu and a ruffled shirt. It was more like, matching patterns and colors. I was opinionated and eager to learn because I had so many ideas I just wanted to create. Ever since then, I’ve stuck with fashion and haven’t veered off. I went to a technical high school for fashion and got my associates and now bachelors degree in Fashion Design. Sounds crazy but I just love what I do and am always looking to learn something new.
My work is fem presenting and gender-neutral. I make it very known that my clothes are for everyone and anyone. I usually focus on streetwear all the way to accessories and evening wear. Whatever, my client needs I make sure I satisfy to the best of my ability. My job as a designer, is to make people comfortable enough to be able to show that sensual/sexual side of them. I love displaying the body with certain cut-outs and silhouettes that don’t exploit, but show off the human body. On the other hand I love exaggerating certain features on garments like collars and sleeves. Add hand painting original art on that work and you have my designs. That’s honestly how you can pick them out! If you see something with a huge collar or long sleeves with eyes on it, that’s me haha.
Besides creating one of a kind garments for influencers, I also do alterations from time to time. With that I solve a lot of fit issues. All of my clients, no matter what I’m doing for them they’re always worried about size. Besides comfortability and sensuality, I prioritize size inclusivity. There’s so many things wrong within the fashion industry and one of them is size. It’s more than making sizes bigger, it’s about the fit and feel of it. No body is the same, so there needs to be a better job of accommodating those needs and others. I think that’s one of the things that sets me apart from others. There’s no set size, and just general standard when it comes to me. There is no perfection, there’s only you, so why no cherish it?
The one thing I’m most proud of is my growth. Whether it be in knowledge of others in need or requests, personal, etc. I’m very proud of myself for coming so far and being able to do what I love. I was lucky enough to have a family that supports what I do. I was lucky enough to have certain professors in my life see what I couldn’t and push me to greater heights. I’m lucky and proud I get to make people’s dream look come true. For people to feel comfortable, sexy, and confident in their own skin. I always wanted that and if I can help others find that, express that? My purpose is fulfilled.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
I did competitions in high school through an organization. It was interesting to put it nicely, but I had a chance to go to nationals for the dress I made. It was a bronze two-toned taffeta dress with a sweetheart neckline, A-line skirt, with a slit in the back and a fur stole to match. Those who were eligible to go had to meet with the head advisor of our state and to say it went bad is such an understatement. The advisor tore me to pieces. She complained about minor things with the dress, which was fine. It’s a critique and by that time as a senior I was used to it. She was harsh, but nothing I couldn’t handle. Then she decided to talk about my character and the way I look saying I would never get anywhere and that I should quit. Of course that took me by surprised and not being able to speak out because she threatened to take my spot in nationals away really ate away at me.
The way I was raised I did what I knew best, and made a whole new dress out of spite in 5 days. Was it my absolute best? No I definitely could’ve done better, but I wasn’t going to let her words get to me so I would drop out. And it got me second place out of all the other states I went against, I would say that’s pretty impressive. Though that woman was cruel and mean, I wasn’t gonna let it stop me. Trust and believe I balled my eyes out and it took me years to get over it. I could still hear her saying that when it came to certain garments I would make. However, I prove her wrong each time because I’ve gotten this far and plan to go farther.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
This is sooooo gonna make my one professor happy for speaking about this. This is a hard question because I think it has obvious answers that are hard to implement. Society can support artists and creatives by sourcing locally. Even doing research to see if this is a small business, is fabric sourced ethically, etc. can take you such a long way. However, it comes down to the price and what is affordable in this economy. Some people aren’t able to afford certain clothing because of the bracket they’re in, so they go to quicker and cheaper options. Others could just not care, thinking it’s not going to apply to them. These options then have poor ethical backgrounds and the consequence of it ending up in a landfill. Just because it goes to a thrift store doesn’t mean it’s not going to end up wasting away for over a decade.
This also falls on the designer, the brand, the organization and they need to take responsibility. They are the ones giving the greenlight on unethical practices from child labor, to water/air pollution, and poor pay wages. Society, creatives, and artists need to take responsibility for how we treat our environment because it has repercussions we now deal with.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/f_sanch3z_/?next=%2Fbluegodzi%2Ffeed%2F&locale=%E6%B5%99%E6%B1%9F%E6%9C%BA%E7%94%B5%E8%81%8C%E4%B8%9A%E6%8A%80%E6%9C%AF%E5%AD%A6%E9%99%A2%E6%AF%95%E4%B8%9A%E8%AF%81%E5%8A%9E%E7%90%86%E3%80%96%E8%81%94%E7%B3%BB%E5%A8%81%E4%BF%A1%2BTG%2F%E9%A3%9E%E6%9C%BA%3A%40buth2788%E3%80%9729tQU%7B%3F%3F%3F%3F1%7DuOsMq
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/?trk=guest_homepage-basic_google-one-tap-submit
- Other: Behance Portfolio: https://www.behance.net/frankiesanchez4
