Bettina Liano

Bettina Liano
Born Melbourne, Victoria
Occupation Fashion designer, entrepreneur
Known for Fashion design
Children 2
Website www.bybettinaliano.com

Bettina Liano is an Australian fashion designer, creator and former owner of the "Bettina Liano" women's clothing and jeans label.

Career

Liano's career in fashion started by chance in the early 1980s when Melbourne retailer Joe Silitto noticed a dress that she had made for her sister, and asked about selling the design.[1][2] In 1983, Liano and her mother opened a shop, "Sempre L'Unico", in Toorak Village. The family business, which included Liano's two sisters,[2][3] did well and they opened two more shops, in Chapel Street and the city.[1]

After leaving Sempre L'Unico to start her own business, Liano, with her husband Roy Christou, launched the eponymous Bettina Liano label in 1989. Two years later they started making jeans – "spray-on-tight, hipster jeans", in contrast to the loose fitting styles of the time – which became one of her most popular items.[1]

In 1999, Liano won a Federal Court injunction preventing Satch Clothing from selling clothes that had been made using her design in breach of copyright. She was one of the first designers in Australia to take such legal action to protect her intellectual property. She also won settlements against other stores copying of her designs.[4][5]

In 2005, Liano designed a collection of clothes for young girls, sold exclusively by Myer, under the children's clothing brand Barbie.[6]

In 2010, Liano won Cosmopolitan magazine's Fun Fearless Female award in the Designer category.[7][8]

In 2011, the business went into administration, but in 2012 recovered after striking a licensing agreement with the Sydney-based Apparel Group. Liano retained control of the business.[9][10]

At its peak, Liano had eight stores in Australia.[11] In February 2013, Liano closed all except one of her Australian stores and opened one in SoHo, Manhattan.[10][12]

In September 2013 the business again went into administration.[10] Subsequently the "Bettina Liano", "T by Bettina Liano" and "O Jeans" trademarks were acquired by the Apparel Group.[11][3] In 2015 Liano created a new label "BYBL"[3] ("By Bettina Liano"[13]).

Personal life

Liano was born c. 1966,[1][14] one of four children of Italian immigrant parents.[15] She grew up in Brighton, Victoria.[14]

At 23, she married Roy Christou; they have two daughters. Liano and Christou were also business partners. They later separated.[1][16]

Liano is the sister of Gina Liano.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Rachel Wells (2006-06-18). "The jean genie - Bettina Liano". The Age. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  2. 1 2 Rachel Wells (2014-02-15). "From fashion to stardom, sisters in step". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  3. 1 2 3 "BYBL by Bettina Liano". Actual People Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  4. ↑ Rachel Wells (2002-07-20). "Rip-offs are in the jeans". The Age. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
  5. ↑ "Fashion's latest catwalk fight". The Age. 2003-07-05. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
  6. ↑ "Bettina Liano for kids". The Age. 2005-04-26. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  7. ↑ "Eye specialist Dr Katherine Smallcombe wins most inspirational woman award". The Daily Telegraph. 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
  8. ↑ "Fun Fearless Females Gather For Cosmopolitan’s Awards". Popsugar International. 2010-09-30. Retrieved 2016-10-24.
  9. ↑ Cara Waters (2012-05-29). "Bettina Liano tells 'How I escaped administration': Three founders that have hung on to their companies". Private Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  10. 1 2 3 Melinda Oliver (2013-10-01). "Fashion brand Bettina Liano up for sale". Private Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  11. 1 2 Siobhan Duck (2014-06-29). "Back in style: Bettina Liano gets her name and her jeans brand back". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  12. ↑ Cara Waters (2013-02-21). "Bettina Liano closing Australian stores and selling jeans in the United States". Property Observer. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  13. ↑ Cara Waters (2015-02-10). "Jeans queen Bettina Liano back from the brink with new business: 'What are you meant to do, roll over and pull out? It’s not my style'". Private Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  14. 1 2 3 Robyn Doreian (2015-04-25). "Two of us: Bettina and Gina Liano". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2016-09-02.
  15. ↑ Siobhan Duck (2014-05-02). "Gina Liano opens up about cancer, her fashion designer sisters and those bullying Real Housewives". News Limited. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
  16. ↑ "Mad about Roy". Fairfax Digital. 2002-12-16. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
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