Rockcoco: What do you love most about fans?
Andi Oliver: My love is two fold! haha! firstly i NEED one because of my hormonal turmoil and the instant solution to hot flushes is of course a fan, but I want beauty and colour in my life wherever i can find it, so a gorgeous hand fan is perfect for me.
Rockcoco: What would your dream fan look like?
Andi Oliver: Vivid colour and feathers! I love to watch a flamenco dancer work a stunning feather fan.
Rockcoco: Do you have a big fan collection?
Andi Oliver: Haha! YES! I have about 35-40 fans at LEAST that could be a modest estimate. I Can't help myself when I see one that I love buy it!
Rockcoco: When did you first start carrying a fan?
Andi Oliver: About 10 years ago.
Rockcoco: At Rockcoco we are on a mission to get fans into the hands of modern women like you, what would you say to a girlfriend to convince her to take up a fan?
Andi Oliver: Don't you want to feel fabulous? don't you want to feel magnificent? Separate yourself from the crowd, fans are the perfect way to finish a look!
'...fans are the perfect way to finish a look!', we couldn't agree more, what a lovely note to end our chat on!
A huge thank you to Andi for giving us an insight into her love of fans, we look forward to seeing Andi working the feathered fan of her dreams in the near future!
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The following was originally posted on Rory Hutton's Blog on May 13, 2022.
Denise Frankel is co-founder of Rockcoco Fans, the first hand fan company to establish itself in the City of London for over 100 years.
Unable to find high-end contemporary fans that compared favourably with antique and vintage examples, Denise and her sister Janis set about researching the old techniques and eventually decided they would have to do something about the lack of beautiful fans themselves.
An impossible task for most these sisters were unfazed, they have accessories in their blood. Their grandfather founded a millinery company in the City of London in the 1930s, their father joined the firm after the war in the 1940s, joined by Janis in the 1990s, now the third generation of the family have pivoted into fans.
They could not have picked a more timely moment to dedicate themselves to this cause, fan making is on the Heritage Crafts Association’s Red List of Endangered Crafts. The sisters are on a mission to rescue fan making from the brink of extinction and are playing a leading role in educating the next generation of fan makers.
I first met Denise in 2019 when she kindly agreed to show me her collection and talk me through the process of making a fan.
In 2020 I was delighted to have the opportunity to design a fan in collaboration with Rockcoco. The fan we created was inspired by floral designer Constance Spry, not only is Spry one of my favourite designers she shared a name with Denise and Janis’s grandmother, so the Constance fan is a double tribute!
It was tremendously exciting to see my design come to life on a fan but more than this I enjoyed working with Denise and hearing the stories of her journey in fan making.
Wanting to capture some of these stories in the hope that they will fascinate and inspire others I conducted this short interview with Denise:
RH: What do you love most about fans?
DF: I love the timeless elegance of a hand fan, it adds an air of sophistication and flirtatiousness to every outfit; The great thing is that it can be created from just about any material (woods, fabrics etc ) which can take it from casual to full on glitz. Of course they are also very practical in keeping you cool.
RH: What historic techniques have Rockcoco saved from the brink of extinction?
DF: One of the historic techniques we have reintroduced is the double-sided fan. The fans you see today have fabric on the front with exposed sticks on the back - while this can be very attractive we wanted to try something different. While researching double-sided fans it became apparent that fan makers today were not skilled in this technique, eventually we managed to track down a fan maker in her 90s who possessed these valuable skills and was willing to teach our fan makers. We now offer this historic technique on some of our bespoke fans.
Another lost skill from historical fan making was engraving mother-of-pearl sticks in preparation for inlaying with gold leaf. After much searching, we found a talented artisan in the U.K who works with mother-of-pearl, inlaying it into musical instruments. He was willing to attempt engraving the mother-of-pearl which fortunately was a success and we went on to have this inlaid with gold leaf.
RH: What have been your favourite commissions?
DF: I love all the personalised bespoke hand fans we have created for our clients. They all have their own personalities by way of the different choices people have made.
RH: When you think back over the last 8 years at Rockcoco what 3 achievements are you most proud of?
DF: Our first and most important achievement was discovering talented artisan fan makers and working with them to create a range of hand fans that up until then we could only imagine.
In 2017, I was extremely proud to be awarded the Freedom of the City of London at the Guildhall in recognition of becoming the first luxury fan maker in London for over 100 years. I was also honoured to be invited to become a Liveryman at The Worshipful Company of Fan makers which was incorporated in 1709 during the reign of Queen Anne.
It has been a long-held tradition of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers to present senior royal brides with a hand fan on the occasion of their marriage.
We were delighted to be commissioned by them to create a bespoke hand fan for HRH the Duchess of Sussex which was presented to her at Kensington Palace on the 19th of March 2019.
A fan for the Duchess of Sussex
RH: Are there any historic fan making techniques that you have yet to try, what would you like to try next?
DF: We are currently working with our fan makers to recreate an antique design which enables the fan to adjust from small to large. We are really enjoying the challenge.
RH: If money and craftsmanship were no object and you could create any fan you wanted what would it look like?
DF: It would be our dream to commission a range of contempoary artists to hand paint fan leaves and to hold an exhibition of them as was all the rage in the 19th century with artists such as Degas, Manet, Gauguin and Pissarro.
Fan Leaf, Edgar Degas (French, 1834-1917), © Norton Simon Art Foundation
RH: Which is your favourite fan from your ready to ware collection?
DF: I love all our fans but have a special place in my heart for the Hawaii with its delicate hand painted design and sparkling sequins
Rockcoco Hawaii Fan
RH: Do you think fans are becoming more popular again?
DF: Yes and not just in the UK we have sold our fans to customers in many different countries especially the U.S.A
RH: How do you find working with family?
DF: I love working with my sister, we get on well and more importantly we are able to express ourselves with the honesty that only siblings can do.
RH: One of the unique things about Rockcoco is your ability to offer bespoke fans for occasions. If somebody wanted to commission a fan what is the process and how long does it usually take from start to finish?
DF: We work closely with our clients to create the perfect luxury fan for any occasion. Firstly we meet to discuss the clients vision and ideas and then together we carefully select the different elements from the finest of materials including fabrics, woods, precious or semi precious gems and metals, engraving, inlaying, embroidery and hand painting. The options are endless! Once the order is placed the process can take between eight to twelve weeks.
If you would like to find out more about Rockcoco Fans or see their collections you can visit the website here.
Rory X
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Rockcoco recently had the privilege of working with celebrity chef and broadcaster Andi Oliver. Together with her stylist, we selected some of our hand fans to complement Andi’s stylish outfits for the new series of Sky Arts Book Club, as well as the Great British Menu.
Andi is often spotted with a hand fan, it’s become synonymous as her statement accessory, so it was a perfect match for us. She recently divulged in an interview that the fans are both a style statement and serve a practical purpose to help her keep cool. First and foremost though, Andi explained that her fans must be fabulous and set off her outfit. As a woman with a strong sense of style it was a joy to see her sporting some of Rockcoco’s unique fans. Andi accessorized her outfits with three fans from our ready to wear collection. First up was the Hawaii fan which is an exquisite hand painted design, with blue silk and a gorgeous wooden frame, finished with a diamanté pin and a fuchsia tassel. Each hand fan is signed by the artist. Andi paired the Hawaii fan with a bold mustard dress, the vibrant colours of the fan perfectly complemented her outfit. Another fan she selected was the stunning Bruges fan in black which looked super chic styled with an off the shoulder dress with a bold rose design. On another occasion, Andi styled it with a super sparkly black sequin shirt. The Bruges is a classic and sophisticated piece that could be teamed with any outfit to add an extra layer of elegance. A beautiful handmade lace fan with a hand carved wood frame, painted black and silver and finished with a black diamanté pin and a black tassel. As with all Rockcoco fans the level of detail is second to none.
The final piece Andi selected was the Cheltenham fan, made from the finest cotton finished with a delicate lace trim, featuring our classic wood frame, with a diamanté pin and a cream tassel. The neutral colour scheme makes this a very versatile piece that would work for all occasions.
It was a real pleasure to work with Andi, and we look forward to seeing how she styles her fans with her many fabulous outfits in the future.
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To find out who this fan was presented to please go to the worshipful company of Fan Makers website.
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Styled by Charlotte Davey and photographed by Aiala Hernando, Rockcoco’s hand-made Bruges lace hand fan is featured alongside exquisite jewellery by Harry Winston, Chanel Fine Jewellery, Tiffany & Co, De Beers, Chaumet and David Morris with evening wear by Ralph and Russo and gloves by Dents.
With a flute of champagne in one hand and your Rockcoco luxury hand fan in the other, you’ll be the belle of the ball this festive season. Whether for a dazzling night at the Opera, that exclusive Christmas cocktail party or a chic New Years Eve soiree, make a statement with your Rockcoco Fine Fans elegant, unique hand fan this Winter and sparkle your way into 2019.
]]>Models and staff who worked with Quant during the height of her fame in the 60s and 70s, as well as contemporary models and collectors turned out for the event – many wearing Quant originals.
1960s models seen here outside the V&A museum still looking fab and wearing original Mary Quant designs.
Contemporary model dressed in original 60s Mary Quant design and holding Rockcoco’s Luxury Hand Fan - Hawaii.
Kari-Ann Muller, 70s model, dressed head-to-toe in Vintage Quant complemented by Rockcoco’s Safari folding hand fan.
Rockcoco’s favourite stylist Katie McDowall, here dressed in vintage Mary Quant with Rockcoco Fine Fans popular Glastonbury hand fan, alongside these beautiful contemporary models also sporting Mary Quant vintage fashion.
Rockcoco’s Shangri-La hand-painted hand fan looking fab with original 1960s Mary Quant dress.
]]>Rockcoco Fans stunning are donating 10% of all proceeds raised to the Lord Mayor’s Appeal until the end of December 2018.
The Lady Mayoress, Samantha Bowman, said:
“The world, the UK and our City are changing fast; this is having a direct impact on the challenges facing society. The Lord Mayor’s Appeal has the potential to benefit over one million people. The primary aim is to have a transformational impact on those people’s lives by bringing together City businesses, neighbouring communities, employees and charities to find solutions to some of London’s most pressing social issues. Consequently, I strongly endorse this magnificent initiative taken by Rockcoco Fine Fans in conjunction with the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers.”
Rockcoco Fine Fans offers three elegant collections: Bespoke; Bridal & Occasion-Wear; and Ready-to-Wear. The fans incorporate only the finest materials, including silk, Chantilly lace, wood and mother of pearl and, if desired, precious or semi-precious gem stones, which can be set in white, yellow and rose gold, silver or platinum. Fabrics are sourced from Joel & Son Fabrics London, a heritage company under Royal Warrant. Rockcoco Fine Fans, established in 2014 by two sisters, Denise Frankel and Janis Sher, is the first ladies’ hand fan producer to commence business within the boundaries of the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers - “20 miles round the Cities of London and Westminster” - for over 100 years.
The Master Fan Maker 2018/19 and Chairman of Rockcoco Fine Fans, Dr Michael Smith, said:
“The Lord Mayor’s Appeal, which embraces so many aspects of London life is, in true Livery tradition, a superb opportunity to really make a difference to our Community. Rockcoco Fine Fans and the Worshipful Company of Fan Makers are proud to be associated with the Appeal and, with your help, will make what we hope will be a most meaningful contribution.”
email: info@rockcocofans.com
Further information on the Lord Mayor’s Appeal can be found at: www.thelordmayorsappeal.org
]]>Freya Rose stunning custom made 'Helena Pearl' shoe accompanied by Rockcoco's shimmering 'Dubai Fan'.
Freya Rose enchanting limited edition 'Fairy Dust' shoes alongside Rockcoco's shimmering 'Rio' fan.
Freya Rose stylish 'Marte Champagne' shoes sparkling along side Rockcoco's seductive 'Rio' fan.
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Rockcoco Fans has been referenced in an article on 'Fans and Fashion' in November 2017 issue of The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles. This is an American monthly magazine for antique dealers. The article describes the history of the hand fan and its current resurgence in popularity.
]]>Address:
10 Lancefield Studios, 1A Beethoven Street London, England W10 4LG
Contact Details:
020 8969 2483
]]>Rockcoco were delighted to have their fans featured in November 2015 issue of Elegant magazine with Atelier Dumebi's stunning collection.
]]>Rockcoco fans exhibited at the Quintessentially Wedding Atelier. The event was held at one of Londons most prestigious locations, the magnificent Langham Hotel.
Every bride has a different style and Rockcoco has a fan to match. The striking Bridal and Occasion-wear collection are handcrafted using only the finest materials, including elegant ebony, delicate Chantilly lace, stunning silks, shimmering mother of pearl and opulent ostrich feathers.
A Rockcoco fan is the ultimate luxurious accessory for every bride and for every special occasion.
]]>Rockcoco fans exhibited at the Quintessentially Wedding Atelier. The event was held at one of Londons most prestigious locations, the magnificent Langham Hotel 31st March / 2nd April 2017.
Every bride has a different style and Rockcoco has a fan to match. The striking Bridal and Occasion-wear collection are handcrafted using only the finest materials, including elegant ebony, delicate Chantilly lace, stunning silks, shimmering mother of pearl and opulent ostrich feathers.
A Rockcoco fan is the ultimate luxurious accessory for every bride and for every special occasion.
Photo : Stuart Wood Model: Suzanne Zell Dress: thecouturegallery
Rockcoco Fans held a photo competition at the Quintessentially Wedding Atelier. All the attendees that visited us at our stand, had their picture taken with one of our exquisite fans. The winners won a beautiful Rockcoco hand fan, as well as the opportunity to model in Rockcocos next photo shoot.
We had hundreds of entries and as you can see from all these beautiful Rockcoco poses, It was a very difficult job to choose our finalists. We want to thank all our participants for taking part in the competition, you all look fabulous.
Photo : nunu_photography & mariadsouza_photography
Congratulations to our three striking Rockcoco Pose Winners Yasmeen, Angelika and Annabel.
Photo : nunu_photography & mariadsouza_photography
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Denise Frankel artistic director of Rockcoco fans being awarded the Freedom of the City of London at the Guildhall October 2016. By Mr Murray Craig Clerk of the Chamberlain's Court, City of London. Mr Ernest Brocklehurst; Beadle to the Chamberlain’s Court, City of London.
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Designer Angela Missoni with a Rockcoco fan backstage at the Missoni fashion show during Milan Fashion Week.
Angela Missoni at Milan Fashion week 2016 with Rockcoco Fans on trend 'lips hand fan'.
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Bambi Bains the talented dancer and singer headlining at Dubai fashion week London 2016. On the red carpet with a Rockcoco fan.
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It is the dream of many to turn a passion into a business, and it’s a dream that came true for sisters Denise Frankel and Janis Sher. Having amassed a stunning collection of vintage and antique hand fans from across the world, Denise and Janis established Rockcoco - Purveyors of Fine Fans in 2014. They became the first luxury hand fan producers in London for almost a century, reviving the hand fan for the modern woman.
]]>The business was born when the sisters failed to find any contemporary company capable of offering the kind of quality they saw in their collection of antique fans. The name Rockcoco embodied their product—classical and stylish, but with a modern, edgy twist. Now, Rockcoco is the go-to resource for modern women looking for an exquisite product to finish the perfect outfit. With their three fashion collections—Bridal, Bespoke, and Everyday—the sisters have raised the luxury accessory to a whole new level.
For brides, Rockcoco offers a striking collection fashioned from the most exquisite materials. Think mother of pearl, Chantilly lace, and exotic plumes. To add the ultimate detail to the most stylish outfit, Rockcoco’s Bespoke service allows you to customise your own personal work of art, using the finest gems and precious materials. The Ready-to-Wear collection has something to turn any occasion into something special. The spotlight will turn on you when you carry your Rockcoco fan to the races, a wedding, or even a music festival. Once a must-have item in every fashionable woman’s wardrobe, the fan is poised once again to become the staple of the stylish woman—thanks to Rockcoco.
]]>A fan can add a touch of magic to any occasion. That’s why, at Rockcoco, we have developed three distinct collections to ensure that you have a fan to suit your taste and mood. Choose from breathtaking Bridal & Occasion Wear, beautiful Bespoke, and on-trend Ready to Wear.
]]>A fan can add a touch of magic to any occasion. That’s why, at Rockcoco, we have developed three distinct collections to ensure that you have a fan to suit your taste and mood. Choose from breathtaking Bridal & Occasion Wear, beautiful Bespoke, and on-trend Ready to Wear.
Every bride has a different style, and Rockcoco has a fan to match. Whether your look is old-world romantic, red-carpet glamour, or bohemian beauty, our collection of bridal hand fans offers the perfect accessory to complement your wedding gown.
Each fan is handcrafted using the finest materials such as delicate Chantilly lace, stunning silks, shimmering mother of pearl, and opulent ostrich feathers. Some fans are finished with exquisite hand-sewn sequins. This is the ultimate luxury for your special day.
For those red-letter days, when you want to stand out, the Rockcoco Occasion-wear Collection is the answer. Handcrafted from the finest ebony, lace, silks, and the choicest of materials and detailing, your fan will have every head turning. This is the ideal accessory for weddings, parties, black tie dos, or a day at the races.
Everyone deserves their own work of art. That’s what a bespoke hand fan from Rockcoco gives you. Share your vision and ideas with us, and we will work closely with you to create the perfect fan. Select the highest quality materials and gemstones and allow our craftspeople to create your work of art, set in gold, white gold, platinum, or silver.
Email us for more information about our bespoke private client service.
The style spotlight is rarely far from the hand fan. This age-old symbol of glamour is always on trend. Both practical and highly wearable, it’s perfect for the busy modern woman. We don’t sacrifice quality for fashion, insisting on expert craftsmanship to create our contemporary British designs and vibrant prints. Embrace delicate florals, bold colours, or edgy prints and wear your fan with pride. Music festivals, parties, days at the races, weddings, or evening cocktails all work better with a Rockcoco fan. Steeped in tradition and old-world glamour, Rockcoco revives the hand fan with an explosion of fresh new looks.
]]>Rockcoco hand fans are defined by grace, attention to detail, and the finest materials. Think delicate Chantilly lace, breath-soft silk, and luxury cotton for the fan fabric. Then add ethically sourced mother of pearl and exotic hardwoods, indulgent ostrich plumes, and gems from bespoke jewellers. This is a whole other level in the world of fans.
Superb materials receive the care and respect they deserve from craftspeople with a passion for quality and an eye for exquisite detail. Sisters Denise Frankel and Janis Sher have gone to immense lengths to find fan experts who share their dedication to creating the highest quality fans, working with artisans from Spain, as well as quality British companies such as the heritage London Jewellers Augustine Jewels.
The woods that go into the frames of a Rockcoco fan are as rich and exotic as the history of the fan itself. The night-dark glow of ebony, the polished sheen of Sipo and Dante, the light tones of Haya or Roble—these are just some of the lustrous woods we use to create a Rockcoco fan. Palo Santo, a relative of frankincense and myrrh, is another favourite, as is the fine, birch-like grain of Abedul. Rockcoco Fabrics The fabric of your fan is an essential element. It must be sleek and strong enough to be fashioned into a work of art and painted by talented craftspeople. That’s why we use only the finest silks, silk/polyester mixes, Chantilly lace, and pure cotton to make a Rockcoco fan.
Mother of pearl comes from the inner shell casing of some molluscs and also forms the outer coating of pearls. We use only ethically sourced mother of pearl from the pearl oyster, freshwater pearl mussel, and the multi-hued abalone. We also use a high-quality plastic version of mother of pearl called Nacarena. Then there are all the other beautiful elements that make each Rockcoco fan unique. Fine gems from bespoke jewellers, ostrich feathers, and precious metals all go into the treasure chest of materials we use to create your perfect fan.
]]>Fashion accessory, work of art, cooling device—the fan has many faces. Learn the language of fans and you will have yet another use for your beautiful Rockcoco fan. The intricate codes associated with the handheld fan have adapted to changing times, but they certainly made a more romantic alternative to the smartphone.
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Fashion accessory, work of art, cooling device—the fan has many faces. Learn the language of fans and you will have yet another use for your beautiful Rockcoco fan. The intricate codes associated with the handheld fan have adapted to changing times, but they certainly made a more romantic alternative to the smartphone.
Here’s how you can get your message across with a Rockcoco fan:
Close your fan and touch your ear with it: Give me a call
Circle the rim of your glass with the end of your closed fan: Buy me a drink
Place the tip of your closed fan on your cheek: I find you attractive
Touch your lips with the tip of your closed fans: Talk to me
Place the open fan against your lips: Kiss me
Show the back of your open fan and fan yourself slowly: Meet me outside
Place your open fan over your heart: I love you
Open your fan under your eyes: I’m shy, but I’m interested
Fan yourself rapidly, with the fan facing up: I am single
Fan yourself slowly, with the fan facing down: Sorry, but I am taken
Carrying in the right hand in front of face.....Follow me
Carrying in the left hand in front of face.....Desirous of acquaintance
Placing it on left ear.....I wish to get rid of you
Drawing across forehead.....You have changed
Twirling in the left hand.....We are watched
]]>Carrying in the right hand in front of face.....Follow me
Carrying in the left hand in front of face.....Desirous of acquaintance
Placing it on left ear.....I wish to get rid of you
Drawing across forehead.....You have changed
Twirling in the left hand.....We are watched
Drawing through the hand.....I hate you
Twirling in the right hand.....I love another
Drawing across the cheek.....I love you
Presented shut.....Do you love me?
Drawing across the eyes.....I am sorry
Touching tip with finger.....I wish to speak to you
Letting it rest on right cheek.....Yes
Open and shut.....You are cruel
Dropping it.....We will be friends
Fanning slowly..... I am married
Fanning quickly..... I am engaged
With handle to lips.....Kiss me
Open wide.....Wait for me
Carrying in left hand, open.....Come and talk to me
Placed behind head.....Don't forget me
With little finger extended.....Good-bye
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