Frances Brunner’s “Boyhood” Reconsiders the Codes of Masculinity

By VOICE-TRIBUNE • Photos By Matt Johnson

Louisville fashion designer Frances Brunner is developing "Boyhood", a new collection and cinematic project examining masculinity through adolescence, defiance, camaraderie, and the pressure to conform. The project fuses together fashion, choreography, music, and film in an exploration challenging familiar ideas about how masculinity should look and move.

At the center of Boyhood is a tension between control and self-definition. Brunner’s garments contrast disciplined, almost militaristic tailoring with exposed construction, sheer materials, and less restrained forms. The clothing draws from traditional menswear while disrupting its expectations, using structure alongside elements associated with vulnerability, experimentation, and youth.

The accompanying film will feature 9 male performers and 4 models (Alé Betts, Brandon Hayes, Dominique Walker, Cameron Njugena, Lenny Garcia, Jose Brooks, Kristopher Stein, and Sage Delaney) moving through choreographed sequences and narrative scenes. The project explores social dynamics: groups of friends, shared rituals, rebellion, and the desire to establish an identity outside of social norms. Boyhood focuses on four different types of male characters within a larger group. Part One follows each character’s personal development and exploration of identity. In Part Two, their stories come together. 

The production is being assembled by a group of Louisville and regional creatives. Local videographer Omar Miranda and direction assistant Kayla Prather lead the film’s visual capture, with photography teams and models Devin Bransford, Callum Peters, Jaxon McLemore and Alfred Gonzalez supporting the production. Jose Brooks directed the choreography. Jordan Mason and Kalynd Parrish are coordinating the project. Brunner is designing and constructing the garments, with leather accessories by Katie Ensor.

The visual language of the film takes inspiration from contemporary music and fashion imagery, including the video for Storm by GENER8ION and Yung Lean. That reference point suggests an emphasis on collective movement and atmosphere rather than a conventional fashion-film presentation.

Brunner’s approach to the project is grounded in both conceptual research and technical fashion practice. Based in Louisville, she holds a BFA in Fashion Design from Kent State University and has worked internationally in Hong Kong, Vietnam, Italy, Denmark, and Canada. Her experience spans menswear design, patternmaking, draping, garment construction, sustainable textile development, and 3D design.

Her previous work includes assisting designer Freya Dalsjø during Copenhagen Fashion Week, where she worked across construction, fittings, styling, and backstage production. In 2025, she served as Lead Designer for Vancouver Fashion Week, overseeing not only the collection but also models, fittings, backstage operations, public relations, fundraising, sponsorship outreach, and presentation materials.

Brunner’s work has also received recognition from Vogue Italia, while her earlier achievements include the Rising Star Sponsorship from Vancouver Fashion Week, the Market Ready Award at Kent State’s annual fashion show, and recognition as an Outstanding Student in Fashion Design.

Boyhood is intended as a multi-part project, with plans to submit the work to the 2026 PhotoVogue Global Open Call and pursue publication in fashion and creative outlets. The project will also coincide with the development of Brunner’s independent menswear line, FRANC_S, through which selected pieces from the collection are expected to become available.

Brunner's project places clothing within a larger visual and social framework, using menswear as a way to examine the structures surrounding masculinity rather than simply reproducing them.