Life and career
Colette Hayman was born in South Africa. [1] While working as a part-time model and retail sales assistant, she met her future husband Mark Hayman on a modelling shoot. She joined his clothing manufacturing business where she later became in charge of design and buying. [2] She has three daughters. [3] Hayman lived in the UK for seven years where she ran French Connection stores. The family moved to Australia in 2000. [4]
In 2002, Hayman and her husband founded Diva, a fashion accessories chain. [1] [2] The couple sold Diva to BB Retail Capital in November 2007. [5]
In 2010, she founded Colette Accessories, a retailer of affordable and trendy handbags, jewellery and fashion accessories. [3] [6] Hayman described the brand as "a more grown up version of Diva". [1] In 2012, the label was renamed Colette by Colette Hayman. [2] In February 2017, IFM Investors purchased a minority stake in the company. [7] The retailer entered voluntary administration in February 2020 and was purchased by an investor group led by Bernie Brookes and John Skellern in September 2020. [8] [9] The company's 138 store count was reduced to 35 stores across Australia and New Zealand as part of a restructure. [10]
Colette by Colette Hayman became part of Brooke's Marquee Retail Group (MRG) in March 2023, along with The Daily Edited. [11] In April 2024, MRG went into voluntary administration. [12] It exited administration in June 2024. [11] MRG collapsed in 2025 and Colette was put into liquidation. [6]