For more than three decades, Lorna Jane Clarkson has been inspiring women to move, live well, and feel empowered.
Widely credited for inventing the global activewear category, the Australian entrepreneur, designer, author, and wellness advocate has transformed the way women dress – and live – by making movement and mindfulness part of everyday life.
Now, with the bold purchase of the iconic SOMA Retreat in Byron Bay, Lorna is extending her namesake brand into immersive wellness experiences.
We sat down with her at The French Café to talk about this exciting new chapter, the evolution of activewear, and the mindset that’s kept her ahead of the curve.
You pioneered activewear over 35 years ago. How do you see the evolution of your brand now reflecting the bigger shift in how fashion, wellness, and lifestyle are merging?
When I first started, activewear wasn’t even a category – it was just gym clothes. Over the years, it’s become an everyday uniform, and our brand has evolved alongside that shift. Today, fashion, wellness and lifestyle are no longer separate worlds. Women want it all to blend seamlessly. Lorna Jane is no longer just about what you wear – it’s about how you live, and our role is to support women in living strong, healthy and inspired lives.
Your personal lifestyle, from growing your own food to podcasting and now curating retreats, seems to mirror your brand’s direction. How much of ‘Lorna the person’ is driving ‘Lorna Jane’ the brand right now?
Honestly, I don’t see much separation between the two. The things I’m passionate about in my personal life – growing food, moving daily, learning, podcasting, retreating – all flow naturally into the brand. I think people can feel that authenticity. What I bring to the business is simply how I live my life, and that’s what makes the brand resonate.
Never Give Up is both the name of your podcast and a core philosophy. How has that mindset shaped your journey, especially when reinventing your business in such a fast-changing market?
Never Give Up has truly been my anchor. When you’re building something pioneering, change is constant. Reinvention is constant. Of course there are challenges, there always are. But for me, challenges become stepping stones when you refuse to give up. That mindset is what’s allowed us to adapt, reinvent and stay relevant in such a dynamic industry.
Activewear has become a daily uniform for many, no longer confined to the gym. How do you think fashion is adapting to the needs of a more holistic, wellness-focused lifestyle?
It’s such an exciting shift. Women don’t want to compromise anymore, they want clothes that move with them throughout the whole day, not just while they’re working out. Fashion is responding by becoming more functional, more versatile and more comfortable, but still stylish. It’s about clothing that supports a lifestyle of movement, work and wellness, all in one.
SOMA was made famous through the series Nine Perfect Strangers. How do you plan to shape its next chapter, and what role will the Lorna Jane brand play in its transformation?
SOMA already has this amazing energy, and we feel privileged to be its next caretakers. Our vision is to honour that legacy while shaping something uniquely Lorna Jane. It won’t just be about retreats, but about creating experiences that inspire, energise and empower. We want people to leave SOMA feeling renewed and ready to take on the world.
Wellness is increasingly seen as the new luxury. How do you think fashion brands—including yours—can authentically tap into the growing retreat and wellbeing economy without losing their core identity?
For me, it all comes back to authenticity. Wellness isn’t a trend for us – it’s always been our foundation. If you expand from a place of truth, it feels natural and seamless. Our entry into retreats and the wellbeing economy isn’t about chasing a market, it’s about extending what we’ve always believed in: empowering women through movement, nutrition and mindfulness.
You’ve always been ahead of the curve. What wellness or fashion trends do you see on the horizon for 2026? And on a personal note, what’s your favourite piece from your latest collection and why?
I think conscious living will continue to be the big movement – women choosing fashion that not only looks and feels good but also supports their wellbeing. Personalised wellness is another space I see growing, whether that’s through retreats or wearable tech.
As for my favourite Lorna Jane pieces right now, it would have to be the layering pieces we’ve created to wear back with your more traditional workout sets. Think oversized shirts, our linen Flashdance pants, and our sleepwear pieces that transition perfectly into weekend wear – LOVE! To me, it’s all about feeling comfortable and cute at the same time, because that’s what activewear should be about: style meeting function in a way that makes life easier and more inspiring.
