The original influencer
These days, we hear the term ‘influencer’ and think of those who have gained a public following using social media. However, Melbourne fashion icon and National Seniors member Margaret Porritt, through her renowned brand Feathers, could be considered one of the original influencers of our generation.
By Nadia Howland
Margaret Porritt adored fashion from a young age and developed an appreciation for aesthetics and design through her mother, who was a milliner.
After working in the United Kingdom for Norman Hartnell, former dressmaker to Queen Elizabeth II, Margaret married and had three boys by the age of 26.
After 12 years of marriage, she divorced and invested part of her settlement money in a fashion boutique called The Orange Poodle, where she worked while raising her sons.
Margaret’s hard work saw her pay off this investment within two years, while opening a second store in Melbourne’s west.
As her boys grew, so did the number of Margaret’s stores. In 1972, she decided to change the name of the The Orange Poodle to Feathers, and later launched her own range of designs called Feathers by Margaret Porritt.
Stocking Australian designer labels, the brand now boasts 15 stores including MYER concessions Australia-wide and a thriving online store.
Feathers offers generations of Australian women the opportunity to wear quality, on-trend designer styles at an affordable price.
Margaret has won numerous awards over the years, including the Victorian Telstra Business Women’s Award, Ragtrader's Retailer of the Year and an induction into the Business Women’s Hall of Fame.
2022 marked a major milestone for Feathers, with the brand celebrating an incredible 50 years in the fashion industry.
“We celebrated the 50-year anniversary milestone with an intimate media event as well as celebrations with close friends and family,” Margaret says. “We also celebrated at the Royal South Yarra Tennis Club with a luncheon, and I made a speech on the history of Feathers.
“We celebrated all year with lots of functions and we visual merchandised our stores with old marketing posters where I featured as the model. The celebration isn’t over—it continues.”
Margaret credits the brand’s success to three main elements: her team, the quality of the fabrics, and manufacturing. Also, the ability to rapidly turn around product from design phase to shop floor.
The brand has survived ups and downs because Porritt herself is an eternal survivor, she explains.
“Out of adversity comes beautiful things,” Margaret says of Feathers’ ability to adapt to an ever-changing industry.
“The brand never stands still. It is constantly evolving and reinventing itself.”
As for the future?
“I’ve no plans to retire and no time to die. I’m too busy!” she laughs.
“I’ve planned my life very well, however. I’m not required to travel as much anymore and I’ve established a nice work/life balance after celebrating 50 years in fashion. I’m enjoying a bit of me time.”
Margaret's career highlights
- 1998: Winner of the Victorian Telstra Business Owner Award and an induction into the Business Women’s Hall of Fame.
- 1998-2018: Board of the Australian Retailers Association (state, national and executive boards).
- 1999: Feathers was also recognised as the Metropolitan Fair Trader of the Year for excellence in customer service.
- 2002-2005: Margaret was a board member of the Melbourne Fashion Festival.
- 2003: Feathers was announced as Finalist in the Telstra Small Business Awards as well as winning regional award at the Retailers Association of Victoria (ARAV) awards.
- 2007: Feathers won Ragtrader's Retailer of the Year award for a fashion chain with under 20 stores.
- 2013: Feathers was excited to be awarded the WGSN, the global authority on style and design as the best advertising campaign for the A/W 13 season.
- 2022: Feathers celebrated 50 years in fashion.
Stocking Australian designer labels, the brand now boasts 15 stores including MYER concessions Australia-wide and a thriving online store.
Feathers offers generations of Australian women the opportunity to wear quality, on-trend designer styles at an affordable price.
Margaret has won numerous awards over the years, including the Victorian Telstra Business Women’s Award, Ragtrader's Retailer of the Year and an induction into the Business Women’s Hall of Fame. 2022 marked a major milestone for Feathers, with the brand celebrating an incredible 50 years in the fashion industry.
“We celebrated the 50-year anniversary milestone with an intimate media event as well as celebrations with close friends and family,” Margaret says. “We also celebrated at the Royal South Yarra Tennis Club with a luncheon, and I made a speech on the history of Feathers.
“We celebrated all year with lots of functions and we visual merchandised our stores with old marketing posters where I featured as the model. The celebration isn’t over—it continues.”
Margaret credits the brand’s success to three main elements: her team, the quality of the fabrics, and manufacturing. Also, the ability to rapidly turn around product from design phase to shop floor. The brand has survived ups and downs because Porritt herself is an eternal survivor, she explains.
“Out of adversity comes beautiful things,” Margaret says of Feathers’ ability to adapt to an ever-changing industry. “The brand never stands still. It is constantly evolving and reinventing itself.”
As for the future? “I’ve no plans to retire and no time to die. I’m too busy!” she laughs. “I’ve planned my life very well, however. I’m not required to travel as much anymore and I’ve established a nice work/ life balance after celebrating 50 years in fashion. I’m enjoying a bit of me time.”
