Friends With Frank

Melbourne outerwear label Friends With Frank began as a side hustle for Julia McCarthy, who was working in retail management and as a buyer when the label first launched in 2012. She began by experimenting with cuts and materials for friends and family, and five years later quit her full-time job to give Friends With Frank her full attention.

McCarthy designs what she calls “forever coats” – classic cuts designed to be timeless, rather than trend-driven styles.

Now the label has made its first foray into bricks-and-mortar with a Richmond store. Its minimalist online aesthetic is applied here too, with whitewashed walls, concrete floors, exposed beams, and line drawings on the walls by Melbourne artist Kate Florence. On the racks you’ll find the label’s latest collections.

Two faux shearling Huggy chairs are designed to feel like a warm embrace. They instantly articulate the kind of mood that Friends With Frank is going for.

Back in 2012, Friends With Frank's first jacket was made from real rabbit fur. And while recent collections lean more on faux fur as a core material, some real fur is still used. McCarthy says that’s because it’s hard to match in terms of warmth, quality and softness.

The fur she uses, she explains, is “ethically sourced” as certified by-product, She also believes that pieces made from real fur last longer, so they can be handed down from generation to generation.