Being in the middle of winter and working from home has us searching for only the comfiest, cosiest pieces to wear around the house! We're obsessed with these fluffy blanket-hoodie hybrids from Melbourne brand Frenchiewear. We interviewed Christian and Jack, the founders of Frenchiewear, about the inspo behind the brand, their goals for the brand's future, and the story behind the name Frenchiewear!

What was the inspiration behind starting Frenchiewear?

Frenchie began 6 months ago, when two Melbourne boys saw a clear gap in the market for a hoodie unlike any other—a hoodie that's comfortable, soft, oozes warmth. A hoodie that hugs you. We tried them all, but to no avail; nothing we found was good enough. Nothing provided us with that instant warmth and comfort we were after while ensuring you don't sweat inside it. This is why we developed this blanket! We knew that if we—two simple boys from Melbourne—were longing for the best hoodie of our lives, then everyone else would be too. This was the birth of Frenchie.

FrenchieWear

Where did the name Frenchie come from?

We love Frenchie Bulldogs! They're super playful and cuddly, just like our hoodies.

What has been the best advice you've received from other local entrepreneurs?

The best advice we received was just to jump into the deep end and give the business a crack; the best way to learn is from mistakes and start the process and the rest will fall into place.

What were your friends' and families' reactions when you told them you had decided to start a business in the middle of a pandemic?

They are very supportive and proud that we didn't let this lockdown get the better of us! We used this time in lockdown to learn, gain experience, and dive head first into a business that we knew would be the perfect fit for the current climate and living circumstances in Melbourne.

FrenchieWear

When did you start officially planning out your brand before you launched? How long was the process from concept to development?

We officially started planning out our brand 4 months out of our launch. Our work ethic towards our branding and marketing overall was second to none. We worked extremely hard in order to build a brand our customers feel a part of. We know the "Frenchie family" may seem as if it's just a selling point or a cliché; however, we truly do work extremely hard to build a brand our customers value and can feel like they're a part of.

What's next for Frenchie?

We see Frenchiewear becoming a global loungewear/sleepwear brand that our customers feel like they're a part of. We aim to build the brand into a community, of sorts. We also continuously strive to make our products as high quality as possible. In terms of expansion, we see the business being in large retail stores and growing our online presence to the likes of Peter Alexander and Juggernaut in that industry. 

FrenchieWear

So many people dream of going into business with their friends. What's your number one tip for managing a business with a friend?

Our number one tip of going into business with friends and just managing the relationship overall is to make sure you and your partner/friend is as equally motivated and ambitious as you are. Without establishing that early on, we believe there will be issues regarding work ethic and willingness to expand as much as possible. We found that being equally as motivated and ambitious as each other has led to fewer disagreements overall; we both want the same things for the business—a huge online presence that our customers value and feel part of.

Follow Frenchiewear on Instagram to keep up with all the goals they're kicking and things they're achieving!

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