Tattarang has announced a significant investment in Camilla Australia Pty Ltd (CAMILLA), the Australian fashion brand owned and creatively directed by Camilla Franks.
The brand has now grown into a global group since its launch in 2004, sold across 65 countries.
Tattarang Director Nicola Forrest AO confirmed the investment makes Tattarang a minority shareholder.
“We are delighted to back Camilla Franks, an extraordinary entrepreneur leading a cutting-edge fashion brand doing amazing things in the creative space,” Forrest said.
Forrest said Tattarang would also focus on female founders at an earlier stage in their entrepreneurship journey and she aimed to assist more businesswomen to develop successful enterprises at the scale of CAMILLA.
“Camilla is a brilliant example of a passionate and committed entrepreneur who truly cares about her brand and her customers and has put Australian fashion on the global stage, as well as being a role model to other female founders,” she said.
Franks said that she was delighted to welcome Tattarang as an investor and partner in CAMILLA, marking the first investment partnership the business has made since it was founded 18 years ago.
“I’ve finally found the perfect partner to help us colour the world. Partnering with Nicola and the Tattarang family is the perfect brand fit for our future vision.
“Through purposeful storytelling, creative and conscious empowerment and shared values and dreams we can take the business to a wider world stage.
“Together, we can elevate women on a global scale, harnessing the amazing artistic talent Australia has to offer, and lead with passion. It brings me great joy and pride to announce I will be joining forces with Tattarang to grow and share this beautiful brand,” Franks said.
Forrest said she is actively working to level the playing field for female entrepreneurs and woman-led or founded businesses, with Tattarang allocating capital both directly and via early-stage female-focused funds.
“It’s time for change: I believe that equal is greater and that having gender as a focus will deliver results for both women and men,” Forrest said.
“This is good for business because there is a strong correlation between gender equality and organisational success across profitability, attraction and retention of best talent and business reputation.
“We will support the next generation of women entrepreneurs who are willing to take a risk and back their dreams — Australia needs more entrepreneurs like Camilla Franks,” she said.
The investment priorities for CAMILLA include additional stand-alone boutiques – particularly in the United States.
International sales now represent ~40% of business sales, with the United States representing the most successful international market overall.
CAMILLA has also transitioned into a global omnichannel brand – more than doubling its digital mix over the last three years, growing from 18% in 2018 to 47% online sales today.
The growth in online sales is complementary to an experiential bricks-and-mortar presence which consists of 25 retail boutiques across Australia and the United States, and 264 wholesale stockists across the globe spanning 65 countries.