That’s Not My Age Podcast Episode 9: Caryn Franklin
Photos: Sarah Cresswell
Caryn Franklin, 61, is a brilliant woman. One of fashion’s tribal elders, the visiting professor, journalist, stylist, producer, author, campaigner and activist has worked in the industry for nearly 40 years. Starting her career as fashion editor on i-D magazine in the 1980s, Franklin went on to spend 15 years presenting and directing The Clothes Show for the BBC, working in education and as a business ambassador before co-founding All Walks Beyond the Catwalk with Debra Bourne and Erin O’Connor. She has travelled all over the world, from war zones to workshops, and remains a pioneering voice for diversity, equality, inclusion and sustainable practices. We met briefly when I was a fashion editor and then got to know each other properly when collaborating on a number of research projects through the Diversity Network (this was when I was lecturing in journalism part-time).
In midlife, with numerous responsibilities and work commitments, Caryn admits to having experienced a ‘Breakdown Breakthrough.’ Overworking, not sleeping and not listening to her body had a serious impact, ‘When I stopped I was really ill,’ she says, ‘and since I’ve recognised my limitations I have become much more humble.’ Returning to study for an MSC in Applied Psychology, in her 50s, she now adds visiting professor at Kingston School of Art to a long list of achievements. Describing herself as a ‘disruptive fashion lover’, Caryn Franklin continues to work in the fashion industry and to use her position as a force for good. As far as Caryn is concerned, it’s the people that count, ‘I am hugely privileged to have met wonderful people from all over the world….individuals that have aroused in me the most respect and excitement. That for me is where I feel my heart connected.’
Caryn is loving the journey towards crone-hood
Believing that confidence and authenticity come with age, in this outstanding podcast episode Caryn Franklin talks about the power of grey, the representation of older models and the joy of ageing. ‘I love getting older,’ she tells me, ‘I’m in the joyous and adventurous journey towards crone-hood. We have huge power because we are not playing the game. We are not decorative set dressing in a man-made world, we are women with power and wisdom.’
We talk about sustainability in the fashion industry, the power of social change and how we can made more considered choices about the clothes we wear. Caryn has made the Extinction Rebellion pledge ‘Not buying new for 52’ – and as part of the challenge isn’t purchasing clothes for 12 months. ‘I think every individual has enormous power,’ she says of being actively involved, ‘Let’s not be mindless consumers, let’s be citizen participants. Let’s vote with our money. Through our wallets we can choose companies that are moving towards better and better protocol; whether it be prioritising women, fair trade wages, the human beings in the system, whether it be a brand looking specifically at having a low carbon footprint or sustainable resources.’
Head scarves are a style signifier for Caryn Franklin
Caryn is reading Hunger: A Memoir of (My ) Body by Roxane Gay and watching music documentaries and gardening programmes on BBC iPlayer. She loves up-cycling clothes, ‘ I’ve begun to really look in my wardrobe – what I can change, redesign, cut, rework, add things to and I’m forever swapping with my daughters and for me that’s a big part of the fun;’ wears Po-Zu boots, Junky Styling and People Tree.
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PODCAST CREDITS
Producer and audio engineer: Linda Ara-Tebaldi
Host: Alyson Walsh
Guest: Caryn Franklin
Music: David Schweitzer
Artwork: Ayumi Takahashi
Coordinator: Helen Johnson
Discussion (16 Comments)
Maelil says:
Love your website and excited to now have podcasts to listen to.
Caryn is great, I remember (too) many years ago watching her avidly on The Clothes Show and she’s still talking sense. One thing though, she may be a visiting professor but as she does not hold a “chair” should not be called Professor. This is an incredibly hard earned academic title, awarded in recognition of outstanding work and few achieve it.
Hi Maelil,
Thanks for commenting. I’ve checked with Caryn and she’s a visiting professor, this title has been approved by her institution. I’ve amended the intro to ‘visiting professor’. Enjoy the podcasts!
Forever a huge fan. She is fabulous!
Thanks for this. Totally inspiring and what truth! It just gets better as we come into our own.Linda Hind says:
As a woman whose hair is disappearing, I ‘d love a tutorial on how she ties that fantastic headscarf! Great style and great philosophy!
Have a look at this feature in WhoWhatWear, Caryn shows how to tie her head scarf:
https://www.whowhatwear.co.uk/caryn-franklin-style–5b13e3fa57a4f/slide8
Emma-Jane Skinmore says:
I enjoy all your podcasts, but particularly this one. As Caryn is 10 years older than me I’ve grown up aspiring to be like her is so many ways…conscious consumption, repairing and repurposing, being kind, not conforming to patriarchal ideals of beauty, owning being older – I could go on and on. She referred to a brand of eco shoe, but I must have misheard as cannot find online, please can you tell me what it is?
Thanks, Emma-Jane. The sustainable shoe brand is Po-Zu and there’s a link at the end of the feature (paragraph above the podcast link).
Very interesting. We really do need to think more about recyling, upcycling and supporting sustainable fairtrade fashion. Thanks for a great podcast.
Joanna Henry says:
Great podcast. So good to hear stylish women talking positively about being ‘grown up’ Many thanks.
Total legend! She taught me at art school and was everyone’s favourite tutor. Of course, we all idolised her from The Clothes Show, and i-D. Love the podcast.
Gail says:
Caryn has lots of great insight into the fashion industry, body image, and even ‘super woman’ burnout that provide food for thought.
[…] That's Not My Age podcast […]
I’ve been binge listening to your podcasts during the Corona virus lockdown. What wonderful conversations you’ve had with these brilliant people. Like chatting with a friend. I’ve taken down book recommendations, looked at clothing sites and been entertained while i sew in isolation. I hope you add some more this year. Well done!
Rachel T says:
I was a teenager when The Clothes Show burst onto the scene and tuned in to the tv show religiously for the latest from Caryn and her co-host Jeff Banks, so it was great to discover that she was one of your podcasts guests. I really enjoyed hearing her views on reinventing her clothes, how the fashion industry can create less waste and pollution and how television views the changes in women’s appearance as we age, or just even acquire a few silver strands! Great interview!
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Another substantial and thought-provoking discussion in this podcast with Caryn Franklin.
I’ve followed her career with interest since she was a presenter on The Clothes Show. Her campaigns and progression to becoming a diversity and ecological campaigner are well outlined here. I also like her seriousness and honesty about overwork leading to a form of breakdown. That she climbed out of this via therapy and more delegation, passing of the baton so to speak and then embarking on academic study in the psychology of fashion is a captivating tale. It seems this has provided her with the vocabulary and analytic tools for her teaching and campaigning.
The answers to the Quick Questions provide further insight. On the eating front the need to reintroduce meat struck a chord. Diagnosed with severe anaemia some way back, apart from a prescription for iron tablets, I was told to eat iron rich food both vegetables and meats.
She always looks great too with a very strong personal flair and style. The ideas about recutting and repurposing and reconfiguring one’s existing wardrobe also struck a chord with me. I’ve my darning kit, stitch unpicker and cutting out shears for the DIY jobs but one also needs to work alongside a skilled tailor or dressmaker to end up with something well-fitted and well-made. In her case it helps to have a base wardrobe of high quality original garments in good fabrics. From that point of departure it’s less of a stretch to embark on the 52 week challenge of no new clothes shopping she is embracing. But perhaps for the rest of us a modified approach is doable.
Thanks Alyson in this second podcast series in providing such lively discussions. Well done and hard work well merited.