Heather Rae Franklin is the statuesque blonde beauty behind Vagrants and Valentines, a local jewelry company that specializes in bangles and baubles fashioned from bullets. You'll often spot Franklin showcasing her wares at events like DIY Street Fair, Art in the Park, and other outdoors street festivals. Aside from jewelry, she also designs clothing, and you can browse her creations on ilovevv.com. When we ran into the fashionable business owner, we were attending the Detroit Design Festival Kick-Off event and were impressed by both her threads and her height. Our favorite aspect of her outfit had to be her cut-off leather jacket, which she calls "vintage Contempo Casuals." She picked up the piece at a Salvation Army, but had to cut the awkward sleeves off. "They were all blown out in the middle of the arm, then got really tight at the wrist. It almost looked like a leather blouse." Proof this lady is a daring design deviant, she roughly cut the sleeves for a tough, biker chick look.
About to jet off for a quick vacation in New York, Franklin chatted with us about turning her company into a full-time job and her hopes to get more involved with Detroit's clothing design community. We can't wait to see more of what Franklin has in store.
Jersey jacket, Topshop: $20
Vintage Contempo Casuals leather jacket, Salvation Army: $3
"Ello Kitty" tank top, Vagrants & Valentines: $65
Leggings, Nordstrom Rack: $12
Shoes, Jeffery Campbell: $159
Spiked bullet bracelet, Vagrants & Valentines: $45
Sterling silver rings, Vagrants & Valentines: $165
Earrings, Vagrants & Valentines: $88
Gold Nixon Watch: $95
TOTAL: $652
