Miami Beach, FL – July 15, 2016 – The latest edition of Cecconi’s Fashion for Breakfast series got a dose of #MiamiSwimWeek flavor. Celebrated Australian fashion designer and founder of CAMILLA, Camilla Franks, joined together with model Rocky Barnes and moderator Marissa Rubin, Market Director at People StyleWatch, to discuss the latest trends and everything about CAMILLA’s latest collection, Jambo, Jambo!

Inspired by the soul, color and spirt of Africa, Jambo, Jambo! is the FALL 16 Ready To Wear offering from  CAMILLA. The collection embodies the bohemian realms of Morocco, the energy of the savannahs, and the  rich cultures of Kenyan tribes. This season integrates a range of contemporary, more refined, pieces to sit within the collection. Staying true to Camilla’s creative ethos – the collection’s contemporary designs are evolutionary in the journey of the CAMILLA brand. The additions are a strategic approach that will accommodate the brand’s global expansion, and also attract a new type of customer to the CAMILLA tribe, both domestically and abroad, by offering a more refined look while keeping its haute hippy foundations close.

World Red Eye was able to catch a moment with Franks, who gave us a closer look into what inspired the latest Jambo, Jambo! collection, as well as what we can expect in the future for the esteemed designer.

WRE: How did you first get your start in design?

CF: My acting days were the platform for the CAMILLA you see today.  It was born from my love of the stage. I would make kaftans to lounge around in between scenes. I designed and sewed my first pieces in my parent’s home in Sydney’s Watsons Bay, with the assistance of my very patient aunty and mum! From there, I opened the Bondi Beach house, the first ever CAMILLA store. It’s been one big party ever since!

WRE: Tell us about the collection you are presenting at this Fashion for Breakfast?

CF: I’m so thrilled to be here in Miami – the mecca of swim – to share this very special collection. The collection is called Jambo, Jambo! and was inspired by my travels through Africa last year. I travelled off the beaten track and visited Morocco, South Africa and a few special tribes in beautiful Kenya. This collection is in honor of the vibrancy of color, the beauty of the land, and the spirit of the people.

WRE: What was it about the African culture that inspired you to create your latest Fall ’16 collection Jambo, Jambo?

CF: I travelled to some of the most remote tribes in Africa. Maasai, Pokot, Turkana and Samburu are all tribes I had the utmost honor of spending time with. It was an experience that truly changed and awakened me. It solidified the meaning of tribe. That we’re all connected, we’re all one. I communicate with people all around the world through common language of textile and color, it was apparent as ever when I spent time with communities in Africa. It connects us.

WRE: How has your culture had an influenced your brand/design aesthetic?

CF: The beaches of Sydney were my stomping grounds growing up, and they still are. My silhouettes tend to be carefree and mellow – which sing from the same hymn book of Sydney’s beach lifestyle.

WRE: Where do you look for inspiration for each collection?

CF: My lead designer and I travel across the globe in search of cultures that are dotted along the paths less travelled. I immerse myself into their world and all it represents; their music, food, color, their daily life. I become one of them. We have duelling cameras and usually come back with over 20,000 images that we then flick through to use as reference during our design process. This poetic collision of imagery and personal experiences translate into the prints for each collection which is designed to honor and capture the essence of destinations, people and cultures.

WRE: Tell us about some of the favorite fabrics you use? Why do you like to work with these?

CF: Silk is at the core of the CAMILLA DNA. It’s a tried and true canvas to tell the story of my travels while lending itself to beautiful breathability and flow. I’ve experimented with printed leathers this season. I love a biker jacket and this season I wanted to design a few that had the CAMILLA touch on them. They fall somewhere between boho and badass.

Silk is at the core of the CAMILLA DNA. It’s a tried and true canvas to tell the story of my travels while lending itself to beautiful breathability and flow.

Camilla Franks, Founder of CAMILLA

WRE: What set’s the Camilla Franks brand/look apart from others in the game?

CF: Our vision is to awaken the adventurous heart that resides within all of us, no matter who we are, because we believe that everyone has a right to experience freedom and feel joy. Everyone also has a right to feel beautiful, and I hope a CAMILLA piece brings that to anyone who wears one. I truly believe that what sets us apart is that we challenge the global idea of what fashion is in adventurous ways by creating beauty from the unexpected. We are forever exploring new lands and with that comes new offerings to keep our clientele constantly engaged.

WRE: Describe the brands signature style?

CF: The CAMILLA kaftan was one of my original designs. To me it still represents effortless, beautiful and versatile style. The kaftan is like a canvas for me to sing the songs of my travels in vibrant color, embellishment and print placement detail. Nowadays my collection has grown into many more silhouettes, swim, kids’ and home designs that more and more celebrities, stylists and devoted women have discovered as a part of our growing tribe.

WRE: Describe the kind of person who is rocking your clothing?

CF: Everyone and anyone is welcome at our table! They are expressive, carefree, strong and dance to the beat of their own drum.

WRE: It can be rather hot here in Miami, do you have any fashion advice or styling tips to share to go along with this tropical climate?

CF: A CAMILLA piece strives in hot climates! I’d recommend trying one of our versatile numbers, like our round neck kaftans that can be tied as a short dress for a trip to the beach, or worn long and off the shoulder as you hit the bars for a post-swim sundowner.

WRE: You’ve had such a successful last 13 years, where do you see the Camilla Franks brand another 13 years from now?

CF: I see it being more global. We’re already stocked in 56 countries, but I’d love to bring CAMILLA boutiques to a huge international level. We’re in the process of setting up our first shop in the US, and then I would like to expand into Europe. Greece, Holland, Paris and London are all on my mind. I’m also flirting with the idea of a CAMILLA hotel in the south of France. But more importantly, my vision for the brand goes far beyond fashion. In the coming years we will be setting up a foundation that aims to educate and rehabilitate victims of domestic violence in India. This country has shown me love and taught me peace, it truly is my second home. It’s time to give back.

The kaftan is like a canvas for me to sing the songs of my travels in vibrant color, embellishment and print placement detail.

Camilla Franks, Founder of CAMILLA