Paul Frank: Difference between revisions
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In November 2005, during "Julius" the monkey's tenth "birthday", Paul Frank resigned from Paul Frank Industries to "pursue other interests". |
In November 2005, during "Julius" the monkey's tenth "birthday", Paul Frank resigned from Paul Frank Industries to "pursue other interests". |
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In March 2006, Paul filed a suit against his former business partners at Paul Frank Industries alleging that he was fired from the company, pushed out of the partnership, and being prevented from using his own name to pursue other opportunites within the field of design. |
In March 2006, Paul filed a suit against his former business partners at Paul Frank Industries alleging that he was fired from the company, pushed out of the partnership, and being prevented from using his own name to pursue other opportunites within the field of design. he was later found in court to have made up everything. |
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==Influences== |
==Influences== |
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Revision as of 06:29, 6 August 2006
Paul Frank (born Paul Frank Sunich) is a well-known fashion designer. He served as the creative director for Paul Frank Industries, Inc. until November 2005. Paul Frank Industries produces clothing and other products, many bearing the face of Frank's well known character, Julius, a monkey.
Biography
During the 1990s, Paul Frank was an art student at Orange Coast College. He bought a sewing machine in order to complete small projects such as attaching patches to sweaters. One day, he used some spare orange vinyl to create a wallet. After seeing his work, his friends expressed interest in other accessories, so he began to sew items such as guitar straps and backpacks.
A few years later, Paul Frank Industries, Inc. formed in order to keep up with the demand for his products. Frank worked during the day, but sewed and sold his products during his spare time. After his friend Ryan Heuser borrowed money ($5000) from his stepmother to help Frank quit his day job, they obtained a business license and a resale number. Their corporate offices are currently located in Orange County, CA. The company's stores are also popular with domestic locations in Southern California; San Francisco, California; New York City; Dallas, Texas; Las Vegas, Nevada; and Chicago, Illinois. International locations include: London, England; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Berlin, Germany; Athens, Greece; Seoul, Korea; and a group in Japan. Future locations include Qatar and United Arab Emirates.
In 1999, Paul Frank collaborated with The Aquabats. Since then, he has worked with other bands including Bad Religion, Radiohead, The Vandals, Alkaline Trio, and Pretty Girls Make Graves. Other musical collaborations inlcude the Coachella festival and radio station KROQ.
Besides co-branding and licensing affiliations with bands, the company has had ties with Mattel, Oscar Mayer, Elvis Presley, Andy Warhol, Wahoo's Fish Tacos, SHAG, John Deere, Nirve Bicycles, ProKeds shoes, and Hello Kitty.
In 2004, Paul Frank added small paul, a line of clothing for kids.
In November 2005, during "Julius" the monkey's tenth "birthday", Paul Frank resigned from Paul Frank Industries to "pursue other interests".
In March 2006, Paul filed a suit against his former business partners at Paul Frank Industries alleging that he was fired from the company, pushed out of the partnership, and being prevented from using his own name to pursue other opportunites within the field of design. he was later found in court to have made up everything.
Influences
In 1972, Paul Frank attended Sun View Elementary School in Huntington Beach, CA. The building was painted in bright colors -- rusty orange, light blue and gold-yellow -- and Frank acknowledges this influence on his subsequent work. He also says that he is inspired by industrial designers: "...whoever designs schools, desks, chairs, office furniture, bicycles, cars, blenders, toasters from the '40s through '60s, stuff like public buildings." Further, Frank says that much of his style has developed as a result of his love for music such as The Who, The Rolling Stones and The Velvet Underground.
Characters
Well-known Frank characters include Skurvy, a skull and bones, Clancy, and Worry Bear. His designs have been featured in numerous movies, most notably in the third installment of the Austin Powers series.
Paul Frank Industries, Inc. is currently in discussion with Warner Bros about extending a series of cartoons found on the Paul Frank website (as previously seen at the Sundance Film Festival). The series, Julius & Friends, is written and directed by co-creator Obie Scott Wade.
Other Paul Frank characters include:
- Julius, a monkey
- Clancy, a small giraffe
- Cornelius (Clancy's older brother), a larger giraffe
- Vic, a snail
- Worry bear
- Sheree L. Bandit, a raccoon
- Todd Spicoli, a hamster
- Ellie, an elephant
- "Girl", a female bunny
- Skurvy, a skull and bones
- Mr. Owi, an owl
- Shaka Brah Yeti, a yeti
- "Devil" Julius, Julius' cousin
- Marshmellows, the hot cocoa rapids riders
Personal Life
Paul Frank is married and lives in Orange County with his wife, Susan. Frank also plays electric guitar in a band called the Moseleys and wishes he had a wienermobile in his driveway.
External links
