Lisa Frank is the creative force behind the vivid and renowned Lisa Frank Inc. It is famous for its brightly colored artwork and funny figures, which have charmed generations. Her enterprise, established in the 1970s, became a cultural phenomenon. This is especially true for children born in the 1980s and 1990s
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Despite the brand’s bright look, Lisa Frank’s real life was far from idyllic. By the early 2010s, the Lisa Frank brand had faded. In 2013, its rainbow headquarters in Tucson, Arizona, which previously housed hundreds of employees, had only six left. Eventually, the factory was abandoned completely.
However, Lisa Frank hasn’t vanished. The brand’s website still sells copies of its characteristic rainbow-colored backpacks, beauty kits, and other accessories. It even collaborates with Crocs and Morphe. Are you curious about Lisa Frank? Here’s all you need to know.
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Was Lisa Frank Popular in the 90s?
Lisa Frank was incredibly popular in the 90s. Lisa Frank Inc.’s brand was known for its vibrant, whimsical designs featuring rainbow colors, unicorns, dolphins, and pandas. Her products, including stickers, school supplies, and backpacks, were a staple on many children’s wish lists during that time.
Lisa Frank is the artist and entrepreneur behind the Lisa Frank brand, which she established in 1979. Frank, 70, was “totally a girly girl” growing up, according to an interview she gave for Urban Outfitters’ blog in 2012.
She saw the possibility of turning her passion into a company while studying art at the University of Arizona. One of her first enterprises was Sticky Fingers, which Frank describes as “jewelry all made up of plastic that I glued together with a glue gun.”
She eventually relaunched Sticky Fingers under her name, establishing Lisa Frank, Inc. (LFI). According to official documents, the corporation was founded in 1979.
Why Did Lisa Frank Inc. Shut Down?
Mismanagement by Lisa Frank and her then-husband, James Green, as well as court conflicts and a poisonous work atmosphere, all contributed to the company’s demise.
Lisa Frank married James Green, an in-house illustrator hired in 1982 who eventually became the company’s president and CEO in 1992. According to court filings, she gave him 49% of LFI’s shares. They have four children: Hunter, Forrest, Kelly, and Aquamarine.
Frank filed for divorce from Green in 2005, setting off a years-long legal saga involving several staffers, including former executive vice president Rhonda Rowlette. Frank sued Green in 2005 to remove him from his positions as director, president, and chief operating officer of LFI and repurchase his shares.
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By 2013, the company had undergone considerable downsizing and struggled to remain relevant. Despite a comeback in popularity in the early 2020s thanks to collaborations, the brand never regained its former splendor.
What Is Lisa Frank Doing Now?
Lisa Frank, with a net worth of $200 million, does not seem to have given an interview in years. However, her brand does have an internet presence. The Lisa Frank website continues to sell products, such as backpacks, wallets, beauty palettes, and laptop covers, all in Frank’s unique design.
The website also emphasizes Lisa Frank’s collaborations with brands such as Crocs, Morphe, Casetify, and Hotels.com. The brand’s TikTok page, which has over 739,000 followers, has been hinting at it’s revival for a time.
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One post from November 2023 depicts two mascots standing in front of what appears to be the revitalized rainbow-painted headquarters in Tucson, Arizona. One major character in Lisa Frank’s new chapter is her son, Forrest Green, who has been Head of Brand and Chairman of LFI since 2018, according to his LinkedIn profile.
According to a Bustle profile from 2021, Forrest Green has worked closely with his mother since a young age. Frank was not interviewed for the story, but Forrest Green, then 21, confirmed on the record that he was behind the brand’s recently refurbished Instagram.
In recent years, Forrest Green has pushed to increase the brand’s social media presence. He has stated that one of his goals is to tap into ’90s nostalgia while reimagining the brand for the twenty-first century.
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