Written by Zoё Frantz
Edited by Jack Bouchard
The year was 1995; Supergrass’ iconic Britpop anthem Alright was sweeping the globe, the Sony Playstation was launched to the delight of gamers around the world, and Pixar’s Toy Story hit theatres, capturing the joy of adults and children alike. Within this milieu, in a Huntington Beach garage, Paul Frank Hunich captured the playful spirit of the mid-90s by creating the mid-century modern monkey we have all come to know and love.
A definitive symbol of the brand, many of us may remember seeing him on t-shirts, hats, laptop cases, or even home décor. But, what ever happened to Julius the monkey and all of his friends? Let’s start from the beginning…
A Happy Accident
Paul Frank’s history is one of unexpected success. Indeed, the eponymous designer did not have a background in fashion. At 28, he was a newsstand worker living with his parents in his childhood home. For Christmas he received a Singer sewing machine, which prompted him to start making handmade gifts for friends and family. Specifically, brightly coloured wallets made of cotton and synthetic leather. These wallets eventually caught the eyes of Ryan Heuser and John Oswald, two businessmen who convinced Robert Frank to mass-produce his wallets for commercial sale. By 1998, the whimsical accessories had become locally loved, and Paul Frank was formally incorporated.
Over the next decade, Paul Frank continued to grow and, ultimately, went global. It seemed as though everyone wanted one of their slogan tees with Julius dressed as a hockey player, rockstar, or cowboy, and endorsements from celebrities such as Fergie and Jesse Metcalfe only fanned the flames of the brand’s popularity. Likewise, television heartthrobs such as Adam Brody—who starred as Seth Cohen in Fox’s The O.C.—wore Paul Frank, epitomizing the brand’s carefree Californian identity. Dawning on the new millennium, this identity resonated across the generations as Y2K paranoia ran rampant. Amid concerns about the future, Paul Frank was a bright spot that reminded people not to take themselves too seriously and stay playful even when what lay ahead was uncertain.
Into the New Millenium
Although he remained a stockholder, Hunich left the company in 2005. In the wake of his departure, a tumultuous legal battle over intellectual property rights ensued, lasting many years. Ultimately, a jury concluded in 2007 that all intellectual property belonged to Paul Frank Industries. Oswald and Heuser, the original investors, would soon follow suit, leaving the company in the subsequent years, though separately and at different times. Later, in 2010, Paul Frank Industries was purchased by Power Rangers owner Saban Brands and moved to Los Angeles in 2012. As his company grew more and more detached from its initial ethos, Paul Frank Hunich pivoted to teaching design and making fine art. He launched a second brand, PF Workshop, to experiment creatively without the constraints of commercial viability. Though this brand is still in operation, Hunich returned as the Director of Creative Development for Paul Frank in 2016, where he remains today.
So, where is Paul Frank now? Throughout the late 2000s and into the early 2010s, celebrities continued sporting the monkey insignia. Famous sightings include Hayley Williams of pop-rock band Paramore, Zendaya and Bella Thorne in their Shake It Up days, and Christian Bale while out with his family. In more recent years, the brand has done a number of collaborations with similarly playful clothing brands such as MadeMe in 2022 and Jaded London in 2023. Additionally, the brand is now home to 22 characters in addition to the fan favourite Julius, including Devil Julius, Mika, and, my personal favourite, Pladipus.
The brand is also awaiting the imminent relaunch of the website, complete with a new line of clothing, stationary, and bag charms. For those that want authentic vintage Paul Frank, secondary platforms such as Depop, Poshmark, and Grailed have original pieces listed, though these are often at quite a substantial mark-up.
Where Does This Leave Us?
Despite what many may have thought, Paul Frank is still alive and well. While it is perhaps not as easily attainable as it was in the 2000s, I am confident the brand will be back in full force soon, so that those who grew up with Julius and his cast of friends can experience its mischief and wonder all over again, and for subsequent generations to discover its charm for the first time. Still, no matter how old you are or what generation you are a part of, Paul Frank always reminds us of one important lesson: Don’t forget to never grow up.
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