Lisa Ho
Encyclopedia
Lisa Ho is an Australia
n fashion designer born in Albury
, on the New South Wales
and Victorian
border. She is married to Philip Smouha
.
She began sewing at age four inspired by her grandmother of African descent, 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. She later trained in fashion design at East Sydney Technical College, graduating in 1981 and spent a year working for another company, which she 'hated', before going out on her own.
Like many of Australia’s fashion designers, fresh out of college in 1982, Lisa Ho started her career at the Paddington markets with her designs that quickly brought her retail and media attention and began the Lisa Ho brand.
The Lisa Ho brand has continued to build into one of the most recognised brands in Australia and has a strong celebrity following with the signature pieces being worn by Delta Goodrem
, Bec Cartwright, Sarah Wynter
, Elle Macpherson
, Sarah Michelle Gellar
, Olivia Newton-John
and Jennifer Lopez
. Her international reputation was first recognized during the Sydney 2000 opening ceremony, which featured a special Lisa Ho designed segment celebrating her role in Australian fashion. Lisa was also asked to design the gown worn by Olivia Newton-John for her performance to welcome the Olympic athletes. Ho now employs 70 staff, which doesn't include outworkers, who man 11 signature stores and head office. Her label is also stocked in more than 250 boutiques worldwide, and she is seriously thinking about opening a store in Los Angeles.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n fashion designer born in Albury
Albury, New South Wales
Albury is a major regional city in New South Wales, Australia, located on the Hume Highway on the northern side of the Murray River. It is located wholly within the boundaries of the City of Albury Local Government Area...
, on the New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
and Victorian
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
border. She is married to Philip Smouha
Philip Smouha
Philip Smouha was born on 3 May 1952 in Sydney, Australia, and was the owner of Smouha Fabrics Group. He is married to fashion designer Lisa Ho and has worked in the fashion industry for over 40 years....
.
She began sewing at age four inspired by her grandmother of African descent, 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. She later trained in fashion design at East Sydney Technical College, graduating in 1981 and spent a year working for another company, which she 'hated', before going out on her own.
Like many of Australia’s fashion designers, fresh out of college in 1982, Lisa Ho started her career at the Paddington markets with her designs that quickly brought her retail and media attention and began the Lisa Ho brand.
The Lisa Ho brand has continued to build into one of the most recognised brands in Australia and has a strong celebrity following with the signature pieces being worn by Delta Goodrem
Delta Goodrem
Delta Lea Goodrem is an Australian singer-songwriter, pianist, and actress. Signed to Sony at the age of 15, Goodrem rose to prominence in 2002, starring in the Australian soap opera Neighbours as Nina Tucker. Goodrem has achieved eight number-one singles and three number-one albums in her home...
, Bec Cartwright, Sarah Wynter
Sarah Wynter
Sarah Wynter is an Australian actress, most widely known for her roles on American television – such as Kate Warner on the television drama 24 and as Beth on Windfall.-Personal life:...
, Elle Macpherson
Elle Macpherson
Elle Macpherson is an Australian model, actress, and businesswoman nicknamed "The Body". She is perhaps best known for her record five cover appearances for the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue beginning in the 1980s...
, Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Gellar
Sarah Michelle Prinze , known professionally by her birth name of Sarah Michelle Gellar , is an American actress, singer and executive producer...
, Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John
Olivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
and Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lynn Lopez is an American actress, singer, record producer, dancer, television personality, and fashion designer. Lopez began her career as a dancer on the television comedy program In Living Color. Subsequently venturing into acting, she gained recognition in the 1995 action-thriller...
. Her international reputation was first recognized during the Sydney 2000 opening ceremony, which featured a special Lisa Ho designed segment celebrating her role in Australian fashion. Lisa was also asked to design the gown worn by Olivia Newton-John for her performance to welcome the Olympic athletes. Ho now employs 70 staff, which doesn't include outworkers, who man 11 signature stores and head office. Her label is also stocked in more than 250 boutiques worldwide, and she is seriously thinking about opening a store in Los Angeles.