Donna Ida Thornton is an Australian-born fashion designer, founder of the eponymous

Jeans Jeans are a type of pants or trousers made from denim or dungaree cloth. Often the term "jeans" refers to a particular style of trousers, called "blue jeans", with copper-riveted pockets which were invented by Jacob W. Davis in 1871 and paten ...

brand DONNA IDA. The designer is regularly referred to as the “Jeans Queen” by the UK press.

Early life

Thornton was raised in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

. Having left school at the age of 16, she started her career as a personal assistant at a property development company. She moved to London in 1999, still working in marketing.

DONNA IDA

Thornton started her eponymous jeans brand in October 2006 when she was 33 years old. The first boutique was located on Draycott Avenue in Chelsea, and was followed by boutiques opened in Westfield, Belgravia and Guildford. The DONNA IDA fashion brand was launched in 2012. Notable fans of the brand include

Made in Chelsea ''Made in Chelsea'' (abbreviated ''MIC'') is a British structured-reality television series broadcast by E4. ''Made in Chelsea'' chronicles the lives of affluent young people in the West London and South West areas of Belgravia, King's Road, C ...

regular Millie Mackintosh, who in 2012 did a photoshoot with Thornton. In 2014, the Donna Ida brand expanded its denim offerings to include more low-rise jean options. In 2016, the designer collaborated with high street retailer Jaeger to launch a new denim collection. In 2017, ''British Vogue'' covered her brand's expansion beyond denim clothing into a lifestyle brand that includes merchandise such as candles and nightwear.

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 St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is the seat of the Bishop of London. The cathedral serves as the mother church of the Diocese of London. It is on Ludgate Hill at the highest point of the City of London and is a Grad ...

. Their family chihuahuas are "majestically indulged" according to the Times. The pair purchased the 16th century grade II listed Langdon Court Hotel in 2021. Thornton is a patron of

Jeans for Genes Jeans for Genes Day is a national fundraiser held in Australia and the United Kingdom.The two fundraisers are not associated with one another and raise money for different organisations. Jeans for Genes (Australia) In Australia, Jeans for Genes ...

, and helps to raise money for the charity Genetic Disorders UK.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Thornton, Donna Ida Living people British women fashion designers 21st-century Australian businesswomen 21st-century Australian businesspeople Australian fashion designers Australian women fashion designers Brand founders Australian expatriates in the United Kingdom Year of birth missing (living people) Businesspeople from Sydney