5 Minutes with Frans Like the Country Owners: Blanca and Frans Flores

Frans Like the Country (FLTC) is not only the name of their shop but it is the beginning of their love story. In 2003, Frans and Blanca met. They shook hands and when Frans said his name, Blanca responded with "Frans, like the country?" They are now married and have a wonder daughter named, Jubilee Red. Frans and BIanca have always been fans of fashion and with the encourangement of friends and family they decided to start our own online and weekend boutique.  It’s a combination of what they love fashion and people. They collect and carry items from different designers that they find in Los Angeles' famous Fashion District.

The creative and captivating, Blanca and Frans Flores(above).

Erin Bleakley: What does your studio space look like?

Blanca Flores: Our studio space is our home.  Some of our friends have described our home to be a museum.  Frans and I enjoy collecting antiques.  Our walls display many of our collections:  Camera, globes, fans, frames, crates and the list goes on.   So our studio is usually planted in our living room where Frans and I fold, wrap, package each order with a personalized thank you note. 

EB: Where does your inspiration come from?

BF: Our inspiration comes from the things that we love, as with any designer or artist.  But to be more specific we are inspired by a combination of classic and contemporary design and fashion.  We enjoy the feeling of a timeless warm sweater; the story that a military jacket can tell with years of wear and tear and the gentleness of a peter-pan collar or lace blouse. 

EB: Do you and Frans do all of the designing?

BF: Frans does most of our weekend shop design.  He made the whole set up, the clothing racks from 50 year old repurposed wood from our home and the chalkboards where we playfully display our prices and logo.  When it comes to the clothing, I hand pick all of the styles and designs that our store carries. 

EB: What are you hoping Frans Like The Country becomes in the next 5 years?

BF: We would love to have a little brick and mortar shop to call our own in the next 5 years.  We would love to have a dedicated studio to Frans like the Country.  We would also love to have our own clothing line. 

EB: What is your best-selling item?

BF:Our best-selling item is our striped sweater with brown elbow patch. 

EB: How have you differentiate you dry-goods store from others out there?

BF: By making sure that our store is a direct expression of the love that we have for design and people, specially our customers.  We do not mind taking the additional time to hand wrap each order, making look pretty with a little bow, and personalizing it with a thank you card or a surprise gift. 

EB: Do you sell your things online only, or is it in stores as well?

BF: We also set up shop at Southern California’s popular flea markets on the weekends; such as Rose Bowl flea market or other Swap Meets in Orange County.  It gives us a chance to interact with new customers in a unique outdoor setting.  We see of all walks of life which we greatly enjoy. 

EB: What song would you listen to before going to a party?

Frans Flores: Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen Wayne’s World Style

Blanca Flores: Some David Bowie Song. 

We want to give a special thanks to Blanca and Frans for taking time out of their schedules to sit down and answer these questions for us, and we wish them well in all their future endeavors!

If you want to check out some more of their beautiful classics (for an absolute steal), click here!

Also, be sure to check in with us on Friday for an amazing giveaway that well we be doing for one of these amazing "love" bracelets!