Lisa Ho

Last updated January 08, 2024

Lisa Ho (born 1960) is an Australian fashion designer born in Albury, on the New South Wales and Victorian border.

Early life

Ho began sewing at age 4 inspired by her grandmother of African descent,^[1] a tailor, whom Ho says she 'probably drove mad'. Ho made patterns out of newspaper and by age 10 had a sewing machine at the end of the kitchen table 'that nobody was allowed to move,' which she used every day to make things for herself and four sisters.

Ho attended Pennant Hills High School. She later trained in fashion design at East Sydney Technical College, graduating in 1981 and spent a year working for three other companies, which she 'hated', before going out on her own.

Career

Like many of Australia's fashion designers, fresh out of college in 1982,^[2] Ho started her career at the Paddington markets for only 6 weeks with her designs that quickly brought her retail and media attention and began the Lisa Ho brand.

The Lisa Ho brand was one of the most recognised brands in Australia and had a strong celebrity following with the signature pieces being worn by Delta Goodrem,^[3] Bec Cartwright,^[4] Sarah Wynter,^[5] Elle Macpherson,^[2] Sarah Michelle Gellar,^[6] Olivia Newton-John ^[6] and Jennifer Lopez.^[6]

Her international reputation was first recognised during the Sydney 2000 opening ceremony, which featured a special segment she designed celebrating her role in Australian fashion. She was also asked to design the gown worn by Newton-John for her performance to welcome the Olympic athletes.

Ho's businesses employed 80 staff (excluding out-workers) across 12 signature stores and head office. Her label was also stocked in David Jones stores and available worldwide via her online store.

Business closure

On 8 May 2013, Lisa Ho Designs and Lisa Ho Retail were placed into administration. This came just months after the company announced plans to list on the Australian Securities Exchange.^[7] On 18 June 2013, the administrators announced the closure of Lisa Ho Group, including all Lisa Ho stores across Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. The company reportedly was $12 million in debt and failed to attract buyers after going into administration.^[8]

Personal life

Ho is engaged to Nick Jacenko.

Ho was one of the victims of serial conman Hamish McLaren (ultimately losing her companies and $350,000 personally) who she met in 2011.^[9]^[10] She was interviewed during the award-winning 2019 podcast based on his crimes, Who the Hell Is Hamish?.^[9]

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References

↑ "Australian Vogue". Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
1 2 Melocco, Jen (26 October 2007). "Forever chic, Lisa Ho celebrates 30years in fashion". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 3 March 2008.
↑ Hogan, Louise (23 April 2007). "Soap stars clean up at TV awards". Irish Independent . Retrieved 3 March 2008.
↑ Fallon, Amy; Moran, Jonathon (2 May 2005). "Logies hat-trick for Rove". The Age. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
↑ Burns, Janice Breen (27 February 2004). "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar, Oi, Oi, Oi!". The Age . Retrieved 3 March 2008.
1 2 3 Enting, Carolyn (29 July 2004). "Show time". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 3 March 2008.
↑ "Lisa Ho another fashion victim". The Australian. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.
↑ Lisa Ho to close its doors forever, Australian Associated Press via Yahoo!7, 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013
1 2 "How designer Lisa Ho helped unpick conman Hamish McLaren's web of lies". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
↑ "Serial fraudster who swindled more than $7 million from victims including Lisa Ho, awaits sentence". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2021.

External links

Lisa Ho website

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[1] "Australian Vogue". Archived from the original on 27 March 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2013.

[telegraph1-2] 1 2 Melocco, Jen (26 October 2007). "Forever chic, Lisa Ho celebrates 30years in fashion". The Daily Telegraph . Retrieved 3 March 2008.

[3] Hogan, Louise (23 April 2007). "Soap stars clean up at TV awards". Irish Independent . Retrieved 3 March 2008.

[4] Fallon, Amy; Moran, Jonathon (2 May 2005). "Logies hat-trick for Rove". The Age. Retrieved 3 March 2008.

[5] Burns, Janice Breen (27 February 2004). "Oscar, Oscar, Oscar, Oi, Oi, Oi!". The Age . Retrieved 3 March 2008.

[dominionpost1-6] 1 2 3 Enting, Carolyn (29 July 2004). "Show time". The Dominion Post. Retrieved 3 March 2008.

[fashion_victim-7] "Lisa Ho another fashion victim". The Australian. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2013.

[closing_forever-8] Lisa Ho to close its doors forever, Australian Associated Press via Yahoo!7, 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013

[:0-9] 1 2 "How designer Lisa Ho helped unpick conman Hamish McLaren's web of lies". www.theaustralian.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2021.

[10] "Serial fraudster who swindled more than $7 million from victims including Lisa Ho, awaits sentence". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 13 April 2021.

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