Paul Frank (born August 29, 1967) is an American cartoonist, artist and fashion designer. His creations adorn clothing, accessories, and many other products. Julius the Monkey is one of Frank's best-known characters, and has appeared in a wide variety of media.
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Paul Frank is a fashion designer focusing on menswear. During the 1990's, he was an art student at Orange Coast College. He bought a sewing machine in order to complete small projects. One day, he used some spare orange vinyl to create a wallet and 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, Frank formed Paul Frank Industries in order to keep up with the demand for his products. He worked at another job during the day, but sewed and sold his products during his spare time. Paul Frank Industries currently has a multi-national presence.
Frank has collaborated with many bands including Bad Religion, Every Time I Die, Radiohead, The Vandals, Alkaline Trio, Atreyu, Tool, Gorilla Biscuits, The Aquabats, and Pretty Girls Make Graves. Other musical collaborations include the Coachella festival, Lollapalooza, and Los Angeles radio station KROQ-FM.
He has collaborated with oths and companies, including Mattel, Oscar Mayer, Andy Warhol, Wahoo's Fish Taco, SHAG, John Deere, Nirve Bicycles, Skullcandy, Obey Giant, ProKeds shoes, Mark Ryden, Thomas Campbell, Hello Kitty, and Lego.[1]
Frank currently owns and heads the new design studios Treestitch Design, Inc. and Park La Fun. He has not been affiliated with Paul Frank Industries since November 2005. Frank's new label includes brand new characters, as well as a more hands-on, personal approach towards his new creations. Frank's new line includes handbags, wallets, t-shirts, and many other accessories all personally designed by Frank himself.
Frank often contributes art pieces to charity events and museum exhibitions. His most famous piece of art is Julius the Monkey. Other friends include Worry Bear, a bear; Spicoli, a hamster; Ellie, an elephant; and Clancy, a small giraffe. He also has Bunny Girl, a little human girl who lives down in a hole dressed in a bunny costume.
In 1972, Frank attended Sun View Elementary School in Huntington Beach, California. 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: "...[artists who] design 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.
In 2003, Frank met his wife, Susan Wang. They were married on June 18, 2005 at Disneyland and currently live in Southern California.