In the world of fashion, a single spark of inspiration can change everything and in 1989 Lorna Jane Clarkson did exactly that. As an Australian fitness instructor, she saw the opportunity for innovation in workout apparel and set out to redefine what women would wear not only to the gym but in their everyday life as well. With little more than a pair of scissors and a paper pattern made from her favourite swimsuit, she set about creating something entirely new—transforming workout essentials into fashion-forward Activewear.

Wearing her designs to class, Lorna quickly caught the attention of her clients, who requested pieces of their own.

Word spread fast, and before she knew it everyone in her classes were wearing Lorna Jane, orders were coming in from stores and she secured a deal with one of Australia’s major Department stores. But when she found her Activewear stocked with swim and traditional sportswear, she realised that the only way she could get women to understand this new category (Activewear), was to open her own stores and tell the story herself. So, in 1990, she opened the very first Lorna Jane Concept Store.