Australian designer Shona Joy is set to close operations after 26 years in business.

Founder Shona Thatcher informed staff the business would shut down as she moves to prioritise her personal life. 

Shona Joy is an Australian fashion house established in 2000 and best known for its formal and bridal wear.

Ms Thatcher told staff she could no longer keep up with the commute from Byron Bay to Sydney to maintain the business.

She hopes to instead spend more time with her family and have more involvement in her young children’s lives.

‘There was always going to be a day when I thought, ‘That’s enough now.’ I’ve done extremely well, and I’m proud of what we’ve built over the past 26 years,’ she told the Australian Financial Review on Monday.

‘The business has grown so much, and I can’t manage being a mum as well. I want to step back. I’m successful, and I want to end [the business] on a successful note. I’m proud that I can do that.’ 

Ms Thatcher clarified that the label hadn’t fallen to the financial woes plaguing women’s labels, like Cue and Sass & Bide, in Australia.

Australian designer Shona Joy (above) is set to close at the end of this year

The label’s founder, Shonda Thatcher, wants to focus on her family life

Shona Joy generated more than $12.5million in sales in 2025, largely due to its extremely popular La Lune dress collection.

Its designs have been sold in 33 countries, including the United States, through retailers like David Jones, Bloomingdales and The Iconic.

Shona Joy has never opened any of its own physical stores but operated a website, which will remain active until the new year. 

It’s understood 33 staff members will be affected by the closure of the label.

All will be paid their entitlements.

– READ MORE: Iconic beauty brand Lush to shut stores across Australia 

– READ MORE: Spanian suddenly shuts down kebab store