The Women Behind Gorman

Bold animal prints, oversized polka dots, vibrant geometric shapes and striking silhouettes spring to mind when thinking of Gorman.

Despite the quirky and particularly unique front, the iconic Australian brand has humble beginnings.

Lisa Gorman began designing and sewing clothes for her dolls at a mere eight years old. She quickly progressed into making applique sweaters for her local craft store and repurposing second-hand clothing by age thirteen. Her love of fashion was put on hold when she moved to Melbourne to pursue a career in nursing, but her passion was always lingering.

In 1999, Lisa launched an eight-piece collection of unisex designs and simultaneously, Gorman was born.

Now, Gorman has over 40 stores across Australia, stores across New Zealand and is available in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and China. However, the brand has remained loyal to its roots, with the clothing being designed and made in Australia.

Each season, Gorman features collaborations with niche and upcoming artists from around the globe. The most recent collaboration is with Ellen Rutt, an interdisciplinary artist from Detroit, Michigan. Ellen’s work has an emphasis on abstract forms, bought to life through layering geometric shapes and bright shades and hues, particularly primary colours.

The collection includes printed denim culottes and wide-leg jeans, embroidered mini and midi dresses, socks, scarves, printed sweaters, and of course Gorman’s iconic printed waterproof raincoat.

Lisa Gorman has maintained her brand’s cult following – cemented through the consistently high-quality pieces, unique silhouettes and playful prints and patterns, perfectly exemplified in the edit below.