Francia Boakye
Francia Boakye
International Fashion Marketing, 2013
Why did you switch from a career in Law to a career in Fashion Design?
Having completed my undergraduate studies in Law at Liverpool John Moores University, I became passionate about fashion design and enrolled in a night course in Garment Construction at Liverpool Community College. Once I completed this course, I was convinced that I wanted to further explore my artistic interests.
What made you choose to study at Heriot-Watt?
Having heard so much about the stellar reputation of Heriot-Watt University, the success rates of previous graduates and the institution's penchant for blending both the practical and theoretical aspects of the fashion enterprise, I then decided that Heriot-Watt would be the ideal setting for me.
Describe your time at Heriot-Watt
My course, International Fashion Marketing was situated in the School of Management and Languages at the Edinburgh Campus. Due to unforeseen circumstances, and the lack of sustainable or sufficient finance, sadly, I was not able to graduate with an MSc. However, I did graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in International Fashion Marketing in 2013 (a year after my peers had graduated). Although it was a sad and tough time for me, this made me push even harder than the rest, because I knew that they had something that I did not have - an MSc.
How would you summarise your career since graduating from Heriot-Watt?
Since graduating, I first traded under the brand name Franciaa, producing bags and clothing with a target market of urbane, curvaceous and sophisticated women. I also did further training to become a qualified kilt-maker, which is a real passion of mine. I am the only African who makes Scottish kilts and I am really proud of that!
Like any other brand, you need to adapt to changing times. I modified my products and Franciaa went through a revamp to bring a fresh look and to expand my business. The brand is now trading under the name Frank Francia catering to a wider audience while still maintaining my brand sophistication - I cannot compromise on that!
Sadly, Covid has put a temporary halt on my latest entrepreneur venture, which is a sewing café in the Muirhouse area of Edinburgh - designed to eradicate loneliness by bringing people together through their love of craftwork. However, I am now running sociable sewing classes on Zoom with the tagline: ‘Living our best lives even in a time of quarantine'. I have also applied my sewing skills to produce customized face coverings and have successfully secured bulk orders from a range of new customers including the City of Edinburgh Council and the National Galleries of Scotland.
This year you have won Sole Trader of the Year Award by the Business Women Scotland Business Awards and you were shortlisted as a finalist in the Great British Entrepreneur Awards as Pivot Entrepreneur of the Year 2020. Congratulations! What do these achievements mean to you and what's your recipe for success?
I am delighted and amazed to have been recognised this year by the Great British Entrepreneur Awards and the Business Women Scotland Business Awards. After I pivoted in my career, I never thought that my business would also have to pivot in the midst of a global pandemic - but I am savouring these new challenges and being able to support the local community while I am doing it makes it all so rewarding.
My recipe for success is always Go For It! My attitude is to push myself, accept any challenges which come my way and have the self-belief that I will be successful.
What are your aspirations for the future?
I want to secure a permanent venue for my sewing café and find more business partners. My goal is to collaborate with other businesses to diversify my clientele and offer more services. It's all about seeking out talent and harnessing it. Teaching online classes has most recently been my ‘new normal', and I would like to further explore this prospect post-quarantine.
How has your Heriot-Watt University education helped you prepare for where you are today?
Wow, so much to say in such a short paragraph. Heriot-Watt is a university that will always be close to my heart. I faced some very challenging times here, but these challenges are the very thing that has helped shaped who I am today- the fearless woman who does not take no for an answer. I felt completely broken many at times, but out of my brokenness came something beautiful- I will not trade this experience for anything. In my world, I believe that no matter what happens, there is always a way. There is no problem without a solution, and no condition is permanent!
Before I embarked on my course at Heriot-Watt University, I already acquired the practical skill of fashion designing and sewing, so I already knew the 'how-to', I needed the 'know-how'. What this course did for me was that it taught me the theoretical side of fashion- International marketing in fashion (I know. It sounds very fancy, right!). Through the school, I also went on field trips where I was exposed to other businesses and personalities in the industry who were very successful in the field of fashion. This helped me to connect and learn from them, and it certainly gave me a taste of what my chosen career will potentially look like for me in the foreseeable future, should I continue to embark on this journey in pursuing my dreams. I also felt incredibly blessed to have personally met Gorge Davies (founder of George, Asda) on my day of graduation.
Heriot-Watt has always been with me every step of my success journey. They have celebrated me so well. My Heriot-Watt University education has helped me in more ways than one. Don't underestimate the power of Google search, because it may just change your life around. This was how I found Heriot-Watt University, and I know I chose well.
What advice do you have for current students?
Follow your interests and aim to achieve both your personal and professional goals. If you have a burning artistic passion, you should not sit idly by in contemplation, you should just go for it. In doing so, you'll be surprised how far you will go. You should remove all obstacles that could potentially distract you from attaining your goals. Focus! Most importantly, even in the face of adversity, believe in yourself. You are your biggest fan! You can neither design nor market what you cannot first envision. So, above all else, believe in yourself.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I was born in London but spent my early years in Ghana, West Africa. At the age of eleven I returned to London and I believe it is this international upbringing that has led me to experience the best of both worlds!
What I find distinctive about my expanding enterprise is that in addition to designing and marketing our products, we also seek to mentor youth interested in fashion design and to nurture their burgeoning artistic imaginations. It should also be said that the Frank Francia brand is also a faith-based venture as my Christian faith has motivated me every step along the way.
I am also committed to donating a percentage of all revenues generated from the sales of Frank Francia merchandise to organisations that seek to assist underserved communities on the continent of Africa and in other marginalised communities across the world.