Lisa Ho

File:Megan Gale (8450843560).jpg presents a leather dress by Lisa Ho]]

Ho was born in Albury, New South Wales.[https://www.sassybella.com/2013/06/farewell-lisa-ho-10-facts-brand-woman/#google_vignette Farewell Lisa Ho] Sassybella She began sewing at age four inspired by her grandmother of African descent,{{Cite web |url=http://www.vogue.com.au/people/designers/lisa+ho,75 |title=Lisa Ho|website=Vogue Australia|access-date=13 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150327091830/http://www.vogue.com.au/people/designers/lisa+ho,75 |archive-date=27 March 2015 |url-status=dead }} 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.{{cn|date=January 2024}}

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.{{Cn|date=January 2024}}

Like many of Australia's fashion designers, fresh out of college in 1982,{{cite news |first=Jen |last=Melocco |title=Forever chic, Lisa Ho celebrates 30years in fashion |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22648411-5013554,00.html |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=2007-10-26 |accessdate=3 March 2008}} Ho started her career at the Paddington markets for only six 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,{{cite news |first=Louise |last=Hogan |title=Soap stars clean up at TV awards |url=http://www.independent.ie/entertainment/news-gossip/soap-stars-clean-up-at-tv-awards-46321.html |work=Irish Independent |date=2007-04-23 |accessdate=3 March 2008}} Bec Cartwright,{{cite news |first=Amy |last=Fallon |author2=Moran, Jonathon |title=Logies hat-trick for Rove |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/TV--Radio/Logies-hattrick-for-Rove/2005/05/01/1114886256127.html |work=The Age|date=2005-05-02 |accessdate=3 March 2008}} Sarah Wynter,{{cite news |first=Janice Breen |last=Burns |title=Oscar, Oscar, Oscar, Oi, Oi, Oi! |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/26/1077676896016.html |work=The Age |date=2004-02-27 |accessdate=3 March 2008}} Elle Macpherson, Sarah Michelle Gellar,{{cite news |first=Carolyn |last=Enting |title=Show time. |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-12808218_ITM |work=The Dominion Post|date=2004-07-29 |accessdate=3 March 2008 }} Olivia Newton-John and Jennifer Lopez.

Her international reputation was first recognised during the 2000 Summer Olympics 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.

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.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/lisa-ho-another-fashion-victim/story-e6frg6nf-1226639695088 | title=Lisa Ho another fashion victim| work=The Australian| date=11 May 2013| accessdate=13 May 2013}} 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.[http://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/lisa-ho-close-doors-forever-013516461.html Lisa Ho to close its doors forever] Yahoo!7 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013

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.{{Cite web|title=How designer Lisa Ho helped unpick conman Hamish McLaren's web of lies|url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/podcasts/how-designer-lisa-ho-helped-unpick-conman-hamish-mclarens-web-of-lies/news-story/9764429a0b4f2f828851e23270544c1e|access-date=2021-04-13|website=The Australian}}{{Cite web|title=Serial fraudster who swindled more than $7 million from victims including Lisa Ho, awaits sentence|url=https://www.9news.com.au/national/news-nsw-lisa-ho-swindled-by-hamish-earle-mclaren-in-ponzi-scheme/f8a9c5cc-a9c1-4778-b86e-7275174a4552|access-date=2021-04-13|website=Nine News|date=13 June 2019 }} She was interviewed during the award-winning 2019 podcast based on his crimes, Who the Hell Is Hamish?.

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• {{Official website|http://www.lisaho.com/ |name=Lisa Ho website}}

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Category:1963 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian people of African descent

Category:Australian people of Chinese descent

Category:Australian people of German descent

Category:People from Albury

Category:Australian fashion designers

Category:Australian women fashion designers

Category:Australian women company founders

Category:Australian company founders

Category:National Art School alumni

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