Michael Hershon was born in Vienna in 1931, immigrated to England in 1938 and then to Australia. His parents, Edward and Serena, had been in the bra business in Austria and then again in Australia, first in their home and then in a small factory in Burwood, called Hestia, after the Greek Goddess of the hearth.
Michael went to New York in 1950 and attended the Academy of Design so he could begin taking control of the company on his return, at the age of 21.
Michael recalls the influence of his father on the family business, “I remember when we used to travel, we’d go overseas, get samples, come back and he would copy them here. I remember walking through the lingerie department in Saks or in Bloomingdales, and he’d be picking up the bras, and pulling and pushing them and flicking the straps. He’d be the only man in the lingerie department with his three little girls following behind. We were mortified. But he had a wonderful sense of humour. He used to call himself a ‘meat packer’ and a ‘structural engineer’.”
1971, Hestia took over Berlei Australia, a much larger compay, becoming Berlei-Hestia. Ten years later, Dunlop Australia made a takeover offer.
- Writers:
-
Jenni Hagedorn
- Date written:
- 2012
- Last updated:
- 2013
