Donna_Ida_Thornton

Donna Ida Thornton

Donna Ida Thornton

Australian-born fashion designer


Donna Ida Thornton is an Australian-born fashion designer, founder of the eponymous Jeans brand DONNA IDA. The designer is regularly referred to as the “Jeans Queen” by the UK press.[1][2][3]

Early life

Thornton was raised in Sydney, Australia.[4][5] Having left school at the age of 16, she started her career as a personal assistant at a property development company.[6] She moved to London in 1999, still working in marketing.[5]

DONNA IDA

Thornton started her eponymous jeans brand in October 2006[6] when she was 33 years old.[7] The first boutique was located on Draycott Avenue in Chelsea, and was followed by boutiques opened in Westfield, Belgravia and Guildford.[8][9] The DONNA IDA fashion brand was launched in 2012. Notable fans of the brand include Made in Chelsea regular Millie Mackintosh, who in 2012 did a photoshoot with Thornton.[10] In 2014, the Donna Ida brand expanded its denim offerings to include more low-rise jean options.[11]

In 2016, the designer collaborated with high street retailer Jaeger to launch a new denim collection.[1][12] In 2017, British Vogue covered her brand's expansion beyond denim clothing into a lifestyle brand that includes merchandise such as candles and nightwear.[13]

Personal life

Thornton is married to restaurateur Robert Walton. The pair first met in 2006, and married in 2009 at a ceremony held at St Paul's Cathedral.[14] Their family chihuahuas[6] are "majestically indulged" according to the Times.[15] The pair purchased the 16th century grade II listed Langdon Court Hotel in 2021.[16][17]

Thornton is a patron of Jeans for Genes,[18] and helps to raise money for the charity Genetic Disorders UK.[19]


References

  1. Wightman-Stone, Danielle (2016-09-12). "Jaeger collaborates with 'Jean Queen' Donna Ida". FashionUnited. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  2. "Is The Low-Rise Jean Back?". British Vogue. 2014-09-24. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  3. "Donna Ida". Country and Town House. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  4. Potter, Kerry (July 2015). "Closet Confidential". ELLE. pp. 89–90.
  5. "Interview, Fashion: Donna Ida Thornton". www.scotsman.com. 2017-11-27. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  6. "I found a focus for my ambition". Glamour. October 2015. p. 23.
  7. "Donna Ida Thornton | HuffPost". www.huffingtonpost.co.uk. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  8. Hampshire, David (2016). London's best shops & markets. Internet Archive. Bath : Survival Books. p. 99. ISBN 978-1-909282-81-0.
  9. Milligan, Lauren (2014-09-24). "Is The Low-Rise Jean Back?". British Vogue. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  10. Roberts, Lauretta (2016-09-09). "Jaeger launches collaboration with "Jean Queen" Donna Ida". TheIndustry.fashion. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  11. Conlon, Scarlett (2017-05-04). "Donna Ida's New Direction". British Vogue. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  12. "Five Minutes with Robert Walton MBE". The Pemberley. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  13. Burroughs, Katrina. "The best luxury doggy decor to pamper your pooch". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 2022-10-29.
  14. "Robert Walton and Donna Ida Thornton buy..." The Caterer. 2021-09-09. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  15. Telford, William (17 February 2022). "Hotel sales worth more than £86m: STAYCATION BOOM DRIVES PROPERTY DEALS". The Plymouth Evening Herald; Plymouth (UK) [Plymouth (UK)]. p. 9 via ProQuest.
  16. "Jeans for Genes - Donna Ida". archive.ph. 2012-08-02. Archived from the original on 2012-08-02. Retrieved 2022-09-27.
  17. Karlson, Dana (2013-05-28). "Good Jeans". Glamour UK. Retrieved 2022-10-29.

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