Touching Base with Franadilla
With his undeniable talent and approachable humility, Francesco “Franadilla” Mbele is simultaneously making waves and riding them to their creative limits. Tshiamo Seape for Shelflife caught up with the mogul in the making for a debrief on what’s good and what’s next.
Give us a quick recap of what you’ve been doing and what projects keep you most busy.
I’ve mostly been trying to figure things out within and succeeding which is great. I’ve been searching within myself for the things which I enjoy and cultivating them. Beyond work I’ve been building terrariums at home, having friends around for tea or searching for vintage furniture on Facebook marketplace while a geo-political Youtube video plays in the background. I’ve realised recently that completing small tasks, or things which I might have been putting off for a while, gives me the energy to tackle the more daunting challenges.
Building a brand and an online persona obviously comes with some strategic decisions. Which aspects of your work do you not necessarily enjoy, but are necessary for the advancement of your goals?
Something I don't particularly enjoy but have learnt to navigate is the pressure of always being on the cutting edge and not allowing yourself to fail and learn. The issue with social media is that everything is ‘televised’ so it makes us less inclined to try something new and maybe it doesn't work out. I have found that whether it works out or it doesn't – if you are proud of what you are doing and you put your heart out there, people will resonate with that.
Once again, having a public persona can have its challenges. Do you think there is a big difference between your interactions with perfect strangers and people who are already familiar with you and what you do?
Both interactions are really special to me, whether someone is aware of who you are or not as both present interesting conversations and situations, but it was really interesting when I was in Paris as most people were complete strangers but we were in the same industry and scene, just in different countries, so those were really special encounters and something new to me too.
Regarding your brand, Franasonic, what made you decide to make journals a part of the offering?
Stationery is something I personally love, so having unique iterations of objects which are usually considered mundane makes life so much more curious.
The merch has quite a broad selection, but what’s your favourite piece from the collection?
My favourite piece is probably the ‘Black woman fighting Apartheid’ shirt as it had a cause but also because the quality of the shirt was superior to anything I had done previously.
You seem to be someone who’s able to turn their passions quite easily into revenue streams or a public expression, but do you have any passions or hobbies that you prefer to keep to yourself?
I play squash every week, it's a great way for me to stay active but I love that it's such a metropolitan sport. I also love growing plants.
You were recently part of the Thebe Magugu x adidas launch event. What was it like to be part of that event and are there any lessons that you have learned from Thebe himself?
Thebe has taught me a lot, I feel so special because I'm not only a collaborator but a friend. One thing I’ve learnt from Thebe is that you need to build open foundations and create a universe, no matter how small it starts.
The Ebumnandini Collective has cemented itself as a nightlife mainstay and creative force. Can you expand on the ethos of the collective and how you might see the brand expanding beyond parties?
It's a place for the youth to find themselves, and I think through our themed events it allows them to experiment with their fashion style, expand their music tastes but most importantly have a good time in a safe space.
What are the 3 most valuable lessons or pieces of advice you have received from your collaborators?
Allow yourself to be inspired by the world around you, not just Pinterest boards.
If it's not working out, don’t give up, just come at it from a different perspective or direction.
Be patient, your own style and narrative will find you.
What are you working on next?
A lot of work on myself and by extension Franasonic. I’m still figuring these things out but I’m enjoying the process.