The Fabric Queen’s Downfall: How a Beloved Seller’s Reputation Crumbled

Maree O’Connor, a plus-size fashion enthusiast standing at six feet tall, had always struggled to find ready-to-wear clothing that suited her figure. Her solution came through sewing, which allowed her to craft stunning outfits that fit perfectly.

While searching for vibrant prints to create new dresses, she discovered a selection of “incredible” fabrics available online. Captivated by a cheerful yellow floral design and a striking black-and-white abstract print, she spent $600 (£450, A$900) on three separate orders.

However, months passed, and her purchases never arrived. By October 2024, the Melbourne-based legal studies teacher grew weary of waiting and created a Facebook group to connect with others who might be experiencing similar delays.

The group rapidly gained traction, attracting hundreds of members within a fortnight, as O’Connor uncovered a significant scandal affecting the sewing community worldwide — from China to Europe and the United States.

Inside the group, numerous sewing aficionados shared their own stories of waiting for fabrics, some for years, while one supplier claimed to be owed tens of thousands of dollars.

The Rise of a Notorious Designer

At the heart of this controversy was Nerida Hansen, a globally celebrated designer. Her company experienced meteoric growth during the pandemic, gaining acclaim for its bold and unique fashion prints that distinguished her from other retailers.

Her creations became favorites among sewists around the globe, frequently appearing in posts by influencers on social media. Some publications even hailed her as the “queen of fabrics” in Australia.

“People appreciated her innovative work,” noted Gabriela Larios, a UK-based artist who collaborated with Hansen. “She was doing something fresh and exciting in Australia,” added another artist, Sarah Rowe, who also worked with Hansen.

Bergen Anderson was among those who were impressed, spending over $3,300 (£2,500; A$5,000) on Hansen’s fabrics in 2024, intending to craft clothing for her US-based children’s clothing line. Yet, like O’Connor, Anderson found herself empty-handed after the promised eight-week delivery window passed.

Instead, she received a series of generic emails indicating her orders were about to be printed and shipped. Other messages from Hansen cited delays due to factors like national holidays.

“It was every excuse imaginable,” Anderson expressed.

Seeking clarity, she joined O’Connor’s Facebook group, where customers were questioning the whereabouts of their funds and why the company continued to accept new orders despite many claiming their fabrics had yet to be dispatched.

O’Connor urged fellow customers to seek refunds and dispute transactions with their banks. Although Anderson managed to reverse two out of three payments, she still lost $808 (£606; A$1,224).

A Designer’s Response

Eventually, Hansen became aware of the Facebook group and requested O’Connor to remove it, alleging that the content was defamatory. O’Connor firmly rejected this claim, stating that she received an immediate refund from Hansen, who seemed eager to silence her.

Despite the offer, O’Connor decided to keep the group active, believing that Hansen would continue her practices of taking money from unsuspecting customers.

Concerns grew within the group as members reacted to Hansen’s announcements about rebranding, fearing what this might mean for their unfulfilled orders. Hansen began trading under various business names.

As the group expanded, it included not only dissatisfied customers but also Hansen’s suppliers. William Shan, a supplier from China, disclosed that his company had provided materials to Hansen until payments ceased.

Upon discovering the Facebook group, he felt a mix of helplessness and sympathy, initially believing Hansen might be facing difficulties. However, he soon realized that subsequent orders worth thousands of dollars also went unpaid.

“We trusted her too much. From 2020 to late 2021, her credit was consistently strong, which led us to continue supplying her,” Shan said.

Claims of Deception

Shan’s company enlisted multiple lawyers to recover the debts owed, but communication from Hansen and her associates dwindled. Eleven artists and illustrators reported to have worked with Hansen’s brand without receiving payment.

Clémence Albertus, a French artist, recalled being approached by Hansen at an art fair in Paris for a collaboration on fabric prints. Trusting Hansen’s reputation, she sent a delicate floral design for licensing.

However, after months of silence, Albertus stumbled upon her design being sold on the Verhees website without her knowledge. The pattern had been altered into different colorways without her approval.

“It has been a complete deception,” she stated, estimating she is owed between €2,000-€4,000 (£1,750-3,500; A$3,500-7,000).

Verhees clarified that they were not responsible for paying royalties owed to designers and that Hansen was solely accountable for these payments. They have since suspended the Nerida Hansen x Verhees collaboration.

While some artists held Hansen fully responsible for unpaid dues, others expressed understanding of her situation. Bron Alexander, based in New Zealand, admitted to not submitting invoices for her work, thus not receiving payment.

Alexander described Hansen as a “visionary” who genuinely aimed to help artists succeed. Conversely, others like O’Connor believed Hansen’s actions were deliberate and intentional.

Consumer Alerts and Business Shutdowns

By September 2025, nearly a year after O’Connor formed the Facebook group, Consumer Affairs Victoria issued a public warning against Hansen and her businesses due to numerous complaints. O’Connor had advised group members to report their experiences to the Australian authorities.

“I advise consumers to be cautious when purchasing from Hansen’s online platforms or engaging with her further,” warned Nicole Rich, director of Consumer Affairs Victoria.

The agency received over 120 complaints within a year, with customers claiming losses exceeding $19,800 (£14,900; A$30,000). The warning highlighted that Hansen operated under several business names, a claim she disputed.

Following the warning, Hansen announced her intent to wind down her businesses by the month’s end and transition into a new career. However, she continued to promote fabric sales on the domains Global De-stash and neridahansen.com well into November.

In a statement, Hansen acknowledged her “very poor” business decisions, expressing that these actions had caused her significant shame. She mentioned financial troubles that led to her company’s liquidation in late 2022, followed by the establishment of a new entity.

Despite her challenges, she insisted that she was still in control of her business situation, attributing her backlog to the Facebook group’s surge of refund requests and chargebacks. Hansen claimed that her trading account was frozen, yet she remained committed to fulfilling orders and refunding customers.

“The attention brought by O’Connor’s group resulted in horrific online harassment and defamation,” Hansen alleged, accusing O’Connor of encouraging what she termed “digital stalking” and attempting to sabotage her business.

O’Connor dismissed these accusations as “outrageous,” maintaining that customers merely sought the refunds and products for which they had already paid.

Despite the turmoil, O’Connor remains dedicated to her sewing passion, vowing never to wear any of Hansen’s designs again. She plans to continue advocating for justice until Hansen’s businesses are dismantled. “Many individuals are still seeking justice, and we hope to achieve that,” she asserted.