Bettina Liano

Bettina Liano (born 1966) is an Italian-Australian fashion designer, creator and former owner of the "Bettina Liano" women's clothing and jeans label.

Bettina Liano
Born1966 (age 54–55)
Melbourne, Victoria
NationalityItalian Australian
OccupationFashion designer, entrepreneur
Known forFashion design
Children2
RelativesGina Liano (sister)
Teresa Liano (sister)
Websitewww.bybettinaliano.com

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 launched a diffusion label "T by Bettina Liano", exclusive to Myer.[7] She also won Cosmopolitan magazine's Fun Fearless Female award in the Designer category.[8][9]

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.[10][11]

At its peak, Liano had eight stores in Australia.[12] In February 2013, Liano closed all except one of her Australian stores and opened one in SoHo, Manhattan.[11][13]

In September 2013 the business again went into administration.[11] Subsequently the "Bettina Liano", "T by Bettina Liano" and "O Jeans" trademarks were acquired by the Apparel Group.[12][3] In 2015 Liano created a new label "BYBL"[3] ("By Bettina Liano"[14]).

Personal life

Liano was born c. 1966,[1][15] one of four children of Italian immigrant parents.[16] She grew up in Brighton, Victoria.[15]

At 23, she married Roy Christou; they have two daughters. Liano and Christou were also business partners. They later separated.[1][17]

Liano is the sister of Gina Liano.[15]

References
  1. Rachel Wells (18 June 2006). "The jean genie - Bettina Liano". The Age. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  2. Rachel Wells (15 February 2014). "From fashion to stardom, sisters in step". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  3. "BYBL by Bettina Liano". Actual People Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  4. Rachel Wells (20 July 2002). "Rip-offs are in the jeans". The Age. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  5. "Fashion's latest catwalk fight". The Age. 5 July 2003. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  6. "Bettina Liano for kids". The Age. 26 April 2005. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  7. "Bettina Liano Clothing & Fashion Label". Australian Fashion Review. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  8. "Eye specialist Dr Katherine Smallcombe wins most inspirational woman award". The Daily Telegraph. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  9. "Fun Fearless Females Gather For Cosmopolitan's Awards". Popsugar International. 30 September 2010. Archived from the original on 24 October 2016. Retrieved 24 October 2016.
  10. Cara Waters (29 May 2012). "Bettina Liano tells 'How I escaped administration': Three founders that have hung on to their companies". Private Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  11. Melinda Oliver (1 October 2013). "Fashion brand Bettina Liano up for sale". Private Media Pty Ltd. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  12. Siobhan Duck (29 June 2014). "Back in style: Bettina Liano gets her name and her jeans brand back". Herald Sun. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  13. Cara Waters (21 February 2013). "Bettina Liano closing Australian stores and selling jeans in the United States". Property Observer. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  14. Cara Waters (10 February 2015). "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 2 September 2016.
  15. Robyn Doreian (25 April 2015). "Two of us: Bettina and Gina Liano". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  16. Siobhan Duck (2 May 2014). "Gina Liano opens up about cancer, her fashion designer sisters and those bullying Real Housewives". News Limited. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  17. "Mad about Roy". Fairfax Digital. 16 December 2002. Retrieved 3 June 2016.
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