 She opened her first shop, an interior decorating business offering imported cushions, fabrics and hangings called "Thea Porter Decorations Ltd", in Soho at 8 Greek Street on 27 July 1966.She realised that rather than just cutting up her imported kaftans to use the fabric for cushion covers, they were fashionable in their own right, and began making up her own in mixed fabrics and antique trimmings.From 1967, she expanded internationally; her first wholesale client was Henri Bendel in New York in 1968.