SHINE’ing the Spotlight on… Caroline McCullough
Australian label FRANKiE4 Footwear is the brainchild of Podiatrist and Physiotherapist, turned footwear designer, Caroline McCulloch. Caroline is on a mission to provide women with the ultimate foot supporting benefits, packed into styles they feel confident wearing. With body mechanics in mind, Caroline designs each of these components aimed to alleviate and prevent foot pain all without the look of a chunky orthopedic shoe. Her designs keep the shoes slimline, light and on trend. Beautiful leather and leather lining are the cherry on top!
Did your previous experience as a Podiatrist and Physiotherapist inspire you to launch FRANKiE4 Footwear?
I prescribed footwear to patients and customers for 7 years before we started FRANKiE4. It gave me the opportunity to get a really good handle on footwear and how it effects foot biomechanics. It also gave me the time to understand what women loved, and what they loathed in a shoe.
I do love fashion and I love feet…it’s the perfect two obsessions to have to design the type of shoes I want to create for women.
Does your husband often have input into your shoe designs are he too is a Podiatrist?
Yes, Al is also a podiatrist. He helps me with the functional elements when I feel I’m not hitting the mark with how the shoe is feeling under foot.
Do I I ever get his opinion on the style elements? …… no!
Have you always had a passion for fashion products and design?
Yes I have. Before I started FRANKiE4 I was always trying to modify footwear for patients. I love fashion, all elements of fashion… but it’s shoes I live and breathe.
Tell us about the sock range you developed to solely raise funds for BrainChild Foundation
We developed a range of quality sockettes where all net proceeds are donated to BrainChild Foundation.
We are on track to raise 50K for them this year.
How important is confidence in a woman’s everyday life?
It’s essential. It’s ultimately why I started FRANKiE4.
I wanted to create a range of shoes that looked great and supported the foot. I was sick of prescribing shoes that I could tell women didn’t feel confident in, they didn’t love the shoes I was asking them to wear.
With FRANKiE4 my mission is to continue to supply footwear that women feel comfortable and confident in.
Tell us the story behind your business name ‘FRANKiE4’
Frank is named after our little foxy who sadly passed away last year. He was 15. I still miss him terribly.
The 4 in FRANKiE4 stands for the 4 pillars of what we are all about.
1) Functional: designing shoes that support foot biomechanics
2) Fashionable
3) Innovative
4) Giving back (raising funds for Brainchild!)
What’s the best part of your job?
Building what feels like something so special with my husband and with a team of excellent people I adore.
https://frankie4.com.au/Facebook:
@frankie4.footwearInstagram:
@frankie4footwearClick the link below to read about FRANKie 4 Footwear’s charity work:
https://frankie4.com.au/giving-back
