Marni is also very excited about the launch of her Surface Patterning (textile design) elective to teach at the Queensland College of Art – A course that she would love to have taken whilst in her undergrad degree. The course will run for the first time this semester (Semester 2, 2011). Well done Marni!

These days, Marni shares her time between freelance textile design, and designing absolutely gorgeous lingerie for Thousand Dancers. Her lingerie is a mix of delicate and vibrant designs, inspired by Patti Smith and the independent spirit of the 1970’s. You can follow Marni’s blog for the latest news, and view the online store or find stockists for her range at… Thousand Dancers.

How have you got to where you are today?

After studying, my goal was to design textiles for Bonds and thought I would have more opportunities in the textile industry if I moved down to Melbourne. So I did! And there I was taken in by a small lingerie company Sabi Lingerie. Being such a small company they were able to take the time to teach me almost every skill I now use day-to-day. I learnt about textiles, admin, lingerie design and fitting and production. They were heaven-sent.

A year and a half later the opportunity arose to work my dream job at Bonds, so I moved up to Sydney. Bonds was an amazing place to be, but when you get your ultimate dream job at 24, it can be a little overwhelming and it’s pretty tough figuring out where to go from there.

So when I left Bonds I tried a few other fashion companies, but it didn’t click with me so began freelancing as a textile and lingerie designer, and have been freelancing ever since!

In a few words, describe yourself…

I think I’m an 80yr old woman trapped in a 28yr olds body. I love old-lady flowers like Australian natives, carnations and baby’s-breath. I collect shells and pottery. My pottery collection is getting a little out of hand and my Boyd collection is my pride and joy.

What are you spending your time on at the moment?

Majority of my time at the moment is spent working on my lingerie label. It’s a lot of admin, sales and production and a little bit of design, so in my free time I craft prints… just for the fun of it!

My latest prints have been a series of mushroom prints. I’ve been working on them all year, I’m just completely fascinated with mushrooms, but it’s tough getting them to look like mushrooms and not eyes, or bulls eyes or anything else circular.

Do you have a ritual for getting into the creative mindset? Or a creative process?

I don’t really have a creative process as such, but I do go into ‘creative mode’. I get to craft my main print for my lingerie range in January every year. I’m stuck with the print for the whole year, so it has to be something I’m completely in love with (no pressure). It usually takes me about a month to get it right and during that time I go into ‘creative mode’.

Running to label I need to be quite organized and methodical, so my house and world stay quite orderly and clean, but to get into ‘creative mode’ I need to break out of these habits and release my messy, hopelessly disorganized side. I give my family plenty of warning when it’s starting cause it can get really annoying picking up after me.

What or who inspires you?

My boyfriend calls me a hoarder, but I like to surround myself with beautiful objects that keep me inspired.

My house is full of photo frames, shells, vases, kimonos, flowers, trinkets, books and pottery (possibly a little too full for a person of my age).

What are you most proud of?

I think my proudest moments come through teaching. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I get paid out about this quite alot…

When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

When I was three I decided I was going to be a Rainbow Farmer. I like to think that I got pretty close.

See more of Marni Franks’ artwork and read more artist interviews.