woman of substance
AT THE OFFICE
Move, Nourish,
Believe! The business of Active Living, with Lorna Jane Clarkson By Mathew Love
Uninspired by the regular, dull and unflattering range of active-wear available for women, Lorna Jane Clarkson set out to completely overhaul the active fashion industry, introducing stylish, exciting and fashionable active-wear that would motivate women to exercise. What started out as a single retail store in the heart of Brisbane in 1990, her business has since taken the world by storm and now boasts more than 155 worldwide outlets.
Where it all began Lorna Jane’s story began 25 years ago when she revolutionised women’s fitness clothing and began building the Active Living category. She became frustrated by the overtly dull and monotonous range of active-wear available to women, and decided to start designing and sewing her own outfits while working
for them as well, which of course I
category for women, and we were
on, my dream has finally been
as a fitness instructor in North
was only too happy to do!”
forced to choose from a very
realised,” Lorna proclaims.
Queensland, Australia. Her designs quickly gained popularity, with the women in her classes placing orders upon orders for her personalised pieces. Lorna explains, “I started designing my own leotards because I was so sick of the shapeless, dismal pieces available at the time. The ladies in my class loved my designs and asked me to make active-wear
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limited range of exercise gear in After quitting her full-time day
the masculine environment of a
job as a dental therapist and
sporting goods store,” says Lorna.
A worldwide affection
moving back to Brisbane, Lorna
This is when Lorna Jane pioneered
Now distinguished as an Austral-
began designing her active-wear
the active lifestyle category for
ian fashion icon, business woman
range full-time. Demand quickly
woman, and has since made the
and author, Lorna still lives and
increased and she launched the
changes she wished to see in the
breathes her brand’s active life-
label’s first retail store in 1990 in
industry. “My aim was to design
style philosophy. Lorna explains
Brisbane’s CBD, with her husband,
workout wear that would actually
how she sets a daily goal every
Bill Clarkson by her side. “Back
inspire women to exercise and
morning, and makes a promise to
then there was no active-wear
I can proudly say that, 25 years
herself to move her body, nourish