We recently connected with Natalie Frank and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Natalie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to go back in time and hear the story of how you came up with the name of your brand?

I was just drawing on another sweatshirt in July of 2022 after having made about six prior, including the ones just for fun and the commissions and I ended up writing NO BRAND on it. There was no thought behind it – it was instinctual, without any deliberate thought behind it. It represents the absence of any specific brand identity, emphasizing that these pieces were more like wearable works of art and all one of a kind. Initially, it felt reminiscent of a graffiti tag. Over time, I fully embraced the concept, and “NO BRAND” evolved into an actual brand itself. The name perfectly captured the essence of my creative process. There aren’t any rules or creative limitations. I don’t have to try to think out of the box because there is no box.

Natalie, 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?

I grew up in San Diego with incredibly supportive parents who encouraged me to explore various artistic endeavors such as dance, musical theater, and fine art. When I moved to Los Angeles, I found myself spending a lot of time alone, which led me to rediscover my love for painting. After a couple of art shows, I began selling my artwork. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to put down the paint brush, but there was a time when I needed to step away from the canvas. Reflecting on it now, I believe swapping out the canvas for sweatshirts, started all of this.

It wasn’t part of my original plan to start an “artwear” brand, but it fell into my lap, and I went with it. Initially, I was simply having fun and making pieces for my friends, who ended up becoming walking advertisements. Soon enough, I started receiving commissions. Although it took me a while to realize it, the people around me saw the potential in NO BRAND to be more than just a side hustle, but it took me much longer to realize that. Fear of failure held me back for some time, but then I said “YOLO.” While validation and sales weren’t the sole reasons I started believing in NO BRAND, they certainly helped. Dealing with judgment from those who didn’t understand the imposter syndrome and the constant internal struggle of pursuing or abandoning NO BRAND was challenging. But I began to see the small the impact it was making in the fashion and art world, I became more determined to fully commit to it.

Now, I can confidently say that NO BRAND has a future. Both the brand and I have experienced tremendous growth in a short period and will continue to do so. It still remains a daunting endeavor because, at its core, it involves taking risks and venturing into the unknown. The operation is still managed solely by me. It started with spray paint, then clothing markers, and I even taught myself freehand embroidery. I’m just winging it, improvising, and experimenting as I go.

Can you talk to us about manufacturing? How’d you figure it all out? We’d love to hear the story.

I purchased blank garments from a random website when I first started creating my pieces. I soon began thrifting, despite the challenge of finding high-quality blanks at secondhand stores. However, the hit or miss nature of thrifting led me to expand beyond sweatshirts and explore jackets, shorts, and even pants. Recently, I reached a point where I felt comfortable investing in bulk quantities of blanks and dyeing them myself. This shift gave me greater control over the production process and helped reduce costs. Remaining eco-friendly is a priority for me, and I believe it’s essential to continue upcycling materials whenever possible.

Alright – let’s talk about marketing or sales – do you have any fun stories about a risk you’ve taken or something else exciting on the sales and marketing side?

I knew that the way to get NO BRAND truly off the ground was to gain exposure. I am a dreamer, but I had to accept the reality that Justin Bieber wouldn’t be walking around in a NO BRAN… yet. So, I turned to a very unconventional approach to get eyes on my work by creating a Tinder profile for NO BRAND. It worked and really helped NO BRAND sales. Surprisingly, this method worked and significantly boosted sales. It allowed me to reach a diverse audience in different locations. Unfortunately, my account was eventually disabled due to solicitation. However, I am very stoked about an upcoming opportunity to showcase my pieces in Alligator Jesus’s showroom amongst other incredible designers. Alligator Jesus (@alligatorjesus) is a brilliant artist, jeweler and makes outrageous grills that are legit works of art. He is truly inspiring in so many ways and I’m so grateful for this opportunity.

Contact Info:

• Website: nobrandswag.com
• Instagram: @no.brand.swag , @nataliefrank_

Image Credits
Sophia Juliette; Caroline Loveglow ; Noah @fencetaken