Lorna Jane has certainly come a long way since then. Now a multi-million dollar fitness inspired clothing brand that includes activewear, yoga, lifestyle, swimwear, intimates  and accessories, Lorna Jane has 35 signature stores throughout Australia, New Zealand and Singapore with new stores opening every month.

Lorna Jane herself has become Australia’s most awarded activewear designer and a well know spokesperson for women’s health and wellbeing. As well as writing articles for various magazines, she is often called upon by the media to comment on women’s wellness issues.

Lorna Jane says, “My company was inspired by my own love of exercise and the healthy and positive way that I choose to live my life. While Lorna Jane may have grown, we remain committed to the ideals that motivated me to start the company in the first place: to make a difference and inspire women everywhere to achieve their best life through Active Living.”

Lorna Jane is herself a living, breathing example of living an active lifestyle. Despite being creative director of her company - a demanding role that sees her designing entire collections, liaising with a multitude if suppliers and over-seeing the creative direction of marketing communications - Lorna Jane remains committed to leading a balanced, energetic and healthy lifestyle. She does this by incorporating daily exercise into her life, eating healthily and taking time out to rest and rejuvenate.

And Lorna Jane is going to need all the energy she can get. Having recently successfully launched in Japan, the company is looking to go global within the next few years.

“I can’t wait to have the opportunity to bring our message of Active Living to women all over the world,” says Lorna Jane.

"I have already realised so many of my dreams and I hope I can help other women realise theirs, too."

Lorna Jane Clarkson is testament to the fact that following your dreams can lead to great things. Cofounder and creative director of her namesake brand, Lorna Jane never set out to establish a multi-million dollar fitness inspired clothing label with stores throughout Australia, New Zealand and Singapore.

“I was simply combining my two passions, design and health and fitness, and before I realized it I had a thriving small business waking up doing every day what I love doing,” says Lorna Jane.

Lorna Jane started her business 17 years ago on the top floor of a Brisbane fitness centre. As a part-time aerobics instructor she wanted to wear fashionable and functional activewear, but couldn’t find anything to suit her needs.

So she began to create and wear her own designs. Soon, other fitness instructors and the women attending her classes started to notice her designs and began requesting outfits for themselves.

Demand grew rapidly, so realising they had tapped into something special, Lorna Jane and her husband Bill Clarkson opened their first retail store in the heart of Brisbane’s city in 1990.

Some of Lorna Jane’s latest design (right).

If you are into active lifestyle and want to look good (who doesn’t) every time you step out, then check out www.lornajane.com.au to find out the locations of Lorna Jane stores - if there isn’t one near you, you would be rest assured there is one coming!

For more information on Lorna Jane label, please visit www.lornajane.com.au