After 22 years as creative director, Gorman founder Lisa Gorman is departing from her position at the company.

Gorman said the decision was emotional, but that her time at the business was up, and that she wants to open opportunities for new creative endeavors.

“The Gorman label has achieved a level of recognition with the Australian fashion landscape that I could not have imagined when I started out in 1999,” Gorman said.

“This chapter has now closed for me personally… For those continuing the label into the future, I wish you all the very best, and I have no doubt you will continue to bring the beauty of colour and print into the world of our customer.”

According to the business, which will continue to operate under the existing creative team, Lisa was instrumental in making the Gorman brand into the household name it is today.

Gorman joined fashion firm Factory X 12 years ago, when, at the time, the brand was facing financial issues and struggling to grow.

“Gorman was acquired at a time when I needed more funding in the company. I was at the point of seven stores and having young kids,” Gorman previously told Inside Retail.

“I needed to secure stock purchases and the lending institutions were tightening on security on shopfits. Factory X gave a lot more flexibility to me and my business partner. We could focus on the creative side, explore our horizons, and try new products.

“We would have never been able to get the label to the point of having 20 stores if we were solo operators.”