Australia’s Lorna Jane activewear lands in Canada
There is a plethora of performance brands on the market today, but Lorna Jane Clarkson is confident shoppers are going to find something a little bit different with her athletic-wear garments. The Lorna Jane founder chatted about what makes her Australian brand different, what made this the right time to launch in Canada and where she plans to take her business from here.
For those who aren’t familiar, what is Lorna Jane?
Lorna Jane is a global activewear company that I started nearly 30 years ago — wow, time flies! Back then, it was really hard to find quality gym clothes that actually looked good, so I decided to make my own.
I started by cutting patterns on my living room floor, designing and sewing on my dining room table and just asking myself what I wanted to wear and then making it happen. I wore my designs to my classes and before I knew it, I was taking orders from the women in fitness centres all over Brisbane, who loved what I was wearing and wanted something the same to wear for their workouts, too.
Q What made this the right time to open in Canada?
A We were already sending thousands of orders a to Canada each month, and the demand was growing. We saw this as an opportunity to provide our Canadian customers with a more localized service, with access to express delivery and exclusive collections catering to our Canadian customer — and climate!
Our customer is the most important person in our business. Everything we do is centred around what she wants and providing her with the best possible product and service. Being on the ground in Vancouver allows us to do that faster and more effectively as well as being able to connect with her on a deeper, more personal level.
Q And what makes Vancouver a good fit for the line?
A Vancouver has a buzzing fitness community and focus on wellness that connects well with our brand and philosophy. Community is a big part of Lorna Jane and how we work, so it was a big consideration when we made the decision to open in Vancouver. To be in a city that makes fitness easy and accessible and provides services that support living a healthy and active life is perfect for us — because that’s exactly what we’re all about.
Q What is the Canadian retail price range for Lorna Jane designs?
A We have a variety of technical fabrics, support levels, cuts and fits and a huge range, so there’s something for everyone. Our sports bras start from under $50 and tights under $90.