Monkey Business

In 1993, Huntington Beach native Paul Frank decided to jazz up a pair of Jack Purcells sneakers by stitching on some vinyl stripes he got from an auto upholstery shop. But the shoes didn’t fit through his sewing machine--duh!--so Frank refashioned the vinyl into gift key chains, wallets and a purse. Inspired by a sock monkey his grandmother had made for him, Frank came up with a lovable cartoon primate with a wide red mouth, named Julius, to adorn his accessories. “Monkeys seem to make people happy,” he says.

You can now find Julius’ mug on Costa Mesa-based Paul Frank pencil cases, backpacks, T-shirts, wallets, bar stools and, this fall, flannel pajamas, available at Urban Outfitters, Jennifer Kaufman in the Beverly Center and X-Large in Los Feliz.

“I don’t want to be pigeon-holed as the monkey guy,” he says, so along with Julius, his accessory zoo also showcases a giraffe, Clancy, and an elephant, Ellie. Paul Frank fans include Claire Danes, Lauryn Hill and Blur guitarist Graham Coxon. And, naturally, his mom. “Yeah, she called me to say, ‘Your shirt’s on “Dharma and Greg”!’ ” he says.