Latest news with #Peppermayo
West Australian
11-07-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Perth business owners fed up with original designs being duplicated by ‘sketchy' online competitors
Perth business owners have shared what it is like to have larger online retailers duplicate their designs and sell them at a lesser price with no consequences. Local designers told The West Australian it 'feels like a punch in the gut' when their pieces— which they spend anywhere up to a year creating — get 'stolen' by online fast fashion retailers. The local slow fashion labels have had their designs 'duped' by well-known websites including Peppermayo, Glassons, Lioness, Ali Express and Shein. Fremantle seamstress Michelle Teles Vecchio, who is behind the popular Deconduarte dresses, said she didn't know whether to be flattered or angry when she saw her designs were being copied. 'I had many customers send me images of the dress that had been duped,' Ms Teles Vecchio said. 'I was pretty flattered to be honest but then I also felt a sense of anger. 'It was a huge fast fashion company and people were commenting on it saying the style and design was genius however it was stolen from us.' Ms Tele's no longer one-of-a-kind Ortiga dress, retails for $500, yet online competitors are charging just a fraction of that price for what looks almost like an exact replica. 'It definitely has negative effects . . . people in this cost-of-living crisis can't afford to pay $500 for a dress, so they will always choose the cheaper option,' she said. Signed + Sealed founders Georgia Shehade and Hannah Jones also felt 'flattered' by having their products duplicated but said it is 'damaging' to their newly-launched clothing and swimwear brand. 'When you see a unique, well-made piece from a local Australian business, there's often a knock-off not far behind,' the pair said. 'Dupe culture being so accepted is really damaging for small brands. 'At first we were really disappointed. It was one of our most popular and distinctive designs . . . so it was frustrating to see a cheaper, lower-quality version being made, widely available. 'However, we are always able to laugh about it and know that imitation is the highest form of flattery.' The mum and daughter duo behind Perth's viral Knitwit The Label have even had their marketing materials used by competitors. 'It's such a weird feeling seeing videos that I've taken, often actually of me wearing our pieces on social media without my consent at all,' Nina Wallace, 20, said. 'At first, seeing the pieces my mum and I work so hard on being duped felt like a punch in the gut. Now, I see an ad using one of my photos multiple times a day, it still stings, 'I have found it really difficult to get support from Instagram and TikTok in regards to getting these ads and pages taken down. These companies will also delete any comments trying to call them out or alert others that these aren't the original piece. 'Having our clothing duped directly impacts our sales as uninformed consumers will often get drawn into buying the cheapest version that they can find. 'Although I understand we're in a cost-of-living crisis, I find it really hard to justify stealing designs and selling dupes at the cost of small businesses.' Mon Ete Swim founder Paris Lindsay has noticed it is no longer exclusively fast fashion companies who are stealing her designs. 'We've seen fast fashion labels . . . attempt to replicate our bikinis, but what's been even more disheartening is seeing other small businesses — especially local ones in Perth and across Australia — try to do the same,' Ms Lindsay said. The Western Australian Small Business Commissioner Saj Abdoolakhan said reports of Australian small businesses having their unique designs copied and mass-produced by online retailers is 'concerning'. 'Small-business owners invest significant time and resources into developing original products,' he said. 'When these are replicated and sold by online retailers, often at a significantly lower price, it undermines not only the individual business but also broader innovation and entrepreneurship in Australia. 'Designers can protect their fashion design intellectual property by applying for a design right . . . a registered and certified design right protects the overall visual appearance of a new and distinctive product including fashion designs. 'A design right gives the designer the exclusive right to use their design within Australia only, however it is possible to apply for the same design right overseas.' However, the small business owners said applying for a design right is 'pointless'. 'Not even large corporations waste their time with this,' Ms Teles Vecchio said. 'This is costly and pointless in my opinion.' Ms Lindsay agreed: 'Trademarking is incredibly expensive for a small business, and even then, it doesn't offer much protection unless you're willing to fight it legally. 'Most brands that copy will change a small detail . . . which is enough to get around any legal issues.' Some of the business owners have attempted to use social media to call out the brands duplicating their designs but have been hit with cease and desist notices. The West Australian reached out to Peppermayo and Lioness for comment but did not hear back from either of them.
Perth Now
11-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Online rivals knocking off Perth labels' original designs
Perth business owners have shared what it is like to have larger online retailers duplicate their designs and sell them at a lesser price with no consequences. Local designers told The West Australian it 'feels like a punch in the gut' when their pieces— which they spend anywhere up to a year creating — get 'stolen' by online fast fashion retailers. The local slow fashion labels have had their designs 'duped' by well-known websites including Peppermayo, Glassons, Lioness, Ali Express and Shein. Fremantle seamstress Michelle Teles Vecchio, who is behind the popular Deconduarte dresses, said she didn't know whether to be flattered or angry when she saw her designs were being copied. 'I had many customers send me images of the dress that had been duped,' Ms Teles Vecchio said. 'I was pretty flattered to be honest but then I also felt a sense of anger. 'It was a huge fast fashion company and people were commenting on it saying the style and design was genius however it was stolen from us.' Deconduarte ORTIGA dress in blue which retails for $500. Credit: Deconduarte website Ms Tele's no longer one-of-a-kind Ortiga dress, retails for $500, yet online competitors are charging just a fraction of that price for what looks almost like an exact replica. 'It definitely has negative effects . . . people in this cost-of-living crisis can't afford to pay $500 for a dress, so they will always choose the cheaper option,' she said. Signed + Sealed founders Georgia Shehade and Hannah Jones also felt 'flattered' by having their products duplicated but said it is 'damaging' to their newly-launched clothing and swimwear brand. 'When you see a unique, well-made piece from a local Australian business, there's often a knock-off not far behind,' the pair said. 'Dupe culture being so accepted is really damaging for small brands. 'At first we were really disappointed. It was one of our most popular and distinctive designs . . . so it was frustrating to see a cheaper, lower-quality version being made, widely available. 'However, we are always able to laugh about it and know that imitation is the highest form of flattery.' The mum and daughter duo behind Perth's viral Knitwit The Label have even had their marketing materials used by competitors. 'It's such a weird feeling seeing videos that I've taken, often actually of me wearing our pieces on social media without my consent at all,' Nina Wallace, 20, said. Peppermayo Consie Long Sleeve Mini Dress, retails for $129.95 Credit: Peppermayo website 'At first, seeing the pieces my mum and I work so hard on being duped felt like a punch in the gut. Now, I see an ad using one of my photos multiple times a day, it still stings, 'I have found it really difficult to get support from Instagram and TikTok in regards to getting these ads and pages taken down. These companies will also delete any comments trying to call them out or alert others that these aren't the original piece. 'Having our clothing duped directly impacts our sales as uninformed consumers will often get drawn into buying the cheapest version that they can find. 'Although I understand we're in a cost-of-living crisis, I find it really hard to justify stealing designs and selling dupes at the cost of small businesses.' (L-R) Paris Lindsay from Mon Ete Swim, Hannah Jones from Signed + Sealed, Nina Wallace from Knitwit the Label, Michelle teles from deconduarte. Credit: Caitlin Vinci Mon Ete Swim founder Paris Lindsay has noticed it is no longer exclusively fast fashion companies who are stealing her designs. 'We've seen fast fashion labels . . . attempt to replicate our bikinis, but what's been even more disheartening is seeing other small businesses — especially local ones in Perth and across Australia — try to do the same,' Ms Lindsay said. The Western Australian Small Business Commissioner Saj Abdoolakhan said reports of Australian small businesses having their unique designs copied and mass-produced by online retailers is 'concerning'. 'Small-business owners invest significant time and resources into developing original products,' he said. 'When these are replicated and sold by online retailers, often at a significantly lower price, it undermines not only the individual business but also broader innovation and entrepreneurship in Australia. 'Designers can protect their fashion design intellectual property by applying for a design right . . . a registered and certified design right protects the overall visual appearance of a new and distinctive product including fashion designs. 'A design right gives the designer the exclusive right to use their design within Australia only, however it is possible to apply for the same design right overseas.' However, the small business owners said applying for a design right is 'pointless'. 'Not even large corporations waste their time with this,' Ms Teles Vecchio said. 'This is costly and pointless in my opinion.' Ms Lindsay agreed: 'Trademarking is incredibly expensive for a small business, and even then, it doesn't offer much protection unless you're willing to fight it legally. 'Most brands that copy will change a small detail . . . which is enough to get around any legal issues.' Some of the business owners have attempted to use social media to call out the brands duplicating their designs but have been hit with cease and desist notices. The West Australian reached out to Peppermayo and Lioness for comment but did not hear back from either of them.
Grazia USA
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Grazia USA
8 Butter Yellow Dresses to Stand Out As a Wedding Guest or Bridesmaid This Summer
Photo Credits (L-R): Peppermayo, Revolve, ASOS DESIGN, Birdy Grey, Peppermayo Move over blush and sage — butter yellow is the breakout bridal party color of the moment. From runways to real weddings, the pastel-meets-sunbeam shade is showing up everywhere for Spring/Summer 2025. Whether you're walking down the aisle as a bridesmaid or making an entrance as a stylish guest, a butter yellow dress is the trend-forward choice to brighten up the ceremony. Fashion's renewed obsession with yellow dresses has been simmering for a few seasons now, but it's officially hit a fever pitch. One major catalyst? The ongoing TikTok-fueled revival of early 2000s fashion moments, like that iconic silk backless gown worn by Kate Hudson in How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days . Often cited as one of the most memorable rom-com style scenes of all time, the now-viral yellow dress moment helped reintroduce this romantic color to a new generation. Designers and retailers alike are embracing the optimistic hue for SS25, from buttery pastels to zesty lemon tones. According to trend analysts at WGSN and Pinterest Predicts, sunny yellows and sorbet shades are top contenders for the warm-weather eventwear palette this year — ideal for summer nuptials, alfresco receptions, or even destination weddings. So whether you're stepping in as maid of honor or just want to look the part in wedding photos, we've rounded up eight butter yellow dresses that are GRAZIA -approved, incredibly chic, and ready to shop now! 1. Helsa Aaliyah Maxi Knit Dress — Butter Yellow, $298: SHOP NOW Revolve Helsa's sculpting knit maxi offers a minimalist silhouette that still makes a major statement. With a high halter neckline — which can also be worn as an off the shoulder silhouette — and a flattering column fit, this is ideal for modern bridesmaids or stylish guests who want to lean into understated elegance. 2. Peppermayo Tayla Linen Maxi Dress — Yellow, $113: SHOP NOW Peppermayo Linen is the unexpected bridal party fabric of the season — and this relaxed yet romantic cut proves why. The Tayla dress features a breezy and breathable style, perfect for beach weddings or outdoor summer receptions. 3. Peppermayo Be Mine Satin Maxi Dress — Canary, $83: SHOP NOW Peppermayo If your vibe is flirty and feminine, look no further. With a draped cowl neck and sleek satin finish, this canary yellow maxi is a scene-stealer for golden hour ceremonies and romantic soirées. 4. Birdy Grey Isla Matte Satin Dress — Lemon Sorbet, $99: SHOP NOW Birdy Grey Birdy Grey remains a go-to for bridal parties, and the Isla dress is no exception. Its cowl back and thigh-high slit strike the perfect balance of sophistication and sass, available in SS25's popular lemon sorbet shade. 5. Peppermayo McKenna Maxi Dress — Yellow, $83: SHOP NOW Peppermayo This ultra-flattering dress hugs in all the right places, thanks to its structured silhouette and unique ruched shoulder seams. The butter yellow hue flatters a wide range of skin tones and feels elevated enough for even the most formal wedding settings. 6. ASOS DESIGN Bridesmaids flutter sleeve bias cut maxi dress — soft yellow, $169: SHOP NOW ASOS DESIGN This dreamy chiffon maxi is wedding‑ready with flutter sleeves, a flattering V‑neck, and a feminine godet frill hem — ideal for dancing late into the night. Available in a range of sizes, it's a universally flattering pick that blends romance and movement. 7. Birdy Grey Valentina Chiffon Dress – Lemon Sorbet, $99: SHOP NOW Birdy Grey For those who prefer something a little more ethereal, the Valentina's soft chiffon, romantic ruffle details, and flattering V-neckline give fairytale energy with a modern twist. 8. PreppyDress A-Line Backless Satin Gown — Butter Yellow, $158.99: SHOP NOW PreppyDress This dress balances drama and grace with its open back, satin sheen, and ultra-feminine A-line skirt, paired with sophisticated pearl straps. It's the kind of gown that glides down the aisle — and looks incredible in photos. Why We're Betting Big on Butter Yellow Warm, joyful, and versatile across dress codes, butter yellow is the perfect tone for celebrating love. Whether you're opting for glossy satin, lightweight linen, or elegant chiffon, this sunny hue is a refreshing update to traditional bridesmaid palettes — and a standout choice for guests wanting to make a statement this season. So go ahead, add a little sunshine to your summer wardrobe — and make your moment in the spotlight glow.
Daily Mail
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Aussie fashion label sparks outrage for tone-deaf move less than two weeks after issuing a grovelling apology to customers for overdue orders
An Aussie clothing brand has sparked outrage yet again despite issuing an apology to disgruntled customers who slammed the online store for failing to deliver orders. Peppermayo, a Sydney-based online company that ships globally, faced a barrage of criticism in recent weeks from angry customers. Customers claimed their orders were weeks or months overdue, while others said they had not received their refunds nor any communication from the brand. The brand faced intense backlash after it shared videos of a sponsored luxury influencer trip to Coachella. Despite issuing a public apology at the end of April, Peppermayo has enraged customers yet again with another brand-sponsored trip to Texas over the weekend. Aussie influencer Sophia Begg, 21, revealed her last-minute trip to Austin in a video shared to her TikTok account just days after the apology. 'Not me saying I wasn't travelling and settling down for a bit and now I'm flying to Texas and I found out like 30 hours ago,' Begg said in a TikTok video. Vlog posts suggest Ms Begg flew first class before meeting with other influencers including British reality star Lucinda Strafford. Peppermayo customers voiced their concerns that the costs of Ms Begg and Ms Strafford's trip to Texas were covered by the brand. It comes after Peppermayo sent a group of influencers on a lavish campaign to the Miami Grand Prix following Coachella on a lavish campaign. Frustrated customers have commented under several Peppermayo TikTok videos with the phrase: 'whereismyorderpeppermayo.' 'Paying influencers to travel over prioritising refunds/orders for loyal customers,' one person wrote. 'When they thought sending two influencers away on a brand trip, using their resources was a good idea, instead of hiring more people to fix the thousands of the complaints they r getting about orders,' another person commented. 'It's a shame seeing influencers associate themselves with this brand, if they look at every post the comments are filled with customer complaints,' a third person chimed. 'Just keep ignoring people and sending influencers places!! literally a college student with no money to spare and cannot get ahold of anyone to help,' a fourth added. Other customers begged Peppermayo to respond to their long-standing order issues. 'Can you guys respond to my email about the order I placed in February?,' one person wrote. 'Can you please ship the second half of my order I've been waiting 3 months,' a second person commented. Another frustrated customer explained she bought a dress during the Black Friday Sales in November, last year, and has not received her order. 'Can you please explain to me why your customer care is telling me that they are out of stock and is waiting to be restocked but on your website it is readily available to purchase,' she wrote. Other customers have escalated their complaints to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The brand responded to select comments, advising each customer to 'send us a DM and our team will look into your order' followed by a love heart or kiss face emoji. Peppermayo founders Georgia Wright and Huayi Huang also issued a public apology to their customers in a post shared to Instagram in April. 'We understand that seeing our recent Coachella event may have been upsetting during this period. Please know these campaigns were planned months in advance,' they said. 'We want to sincerely apologise for the recent delays experienced by our amazing customers in receiving their orders, and for our lack of transparency during this time.' Peppermayo's founders Georgia Wright and Huayi Huang posted an official statement on social media in April apologising to their customers about the order delays The brand's statement cited unspecified 'external macroeconomic factors' which caused 'major technological and integration challenges'. They said the backlog is due to be cleared and the supply chain issues have been stabilised. The statement also acknowledged there was a lack of customer service staff to address complaints, but said more employees have since been brought on. The founders said 'as a small way of making it right' they were making the 'gesture' of offering free express shipping for a month from May 5 to the US, UK, Australia and Canada. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Peppermayo for comment. The Adelaide-born brand describes itself on its website as a 'Sydney based fashion biz with a diverse, trendy, female customer base'. Its Instagram page has 1.2million followers, while its TikTok account has over 327,000 followers.
Herald Sun
30-04-2025
- Business
- Herald Sun
Aussie brand Peppermayo finally apologies after delayed orders
Don't miss out on the headlines from Fashion. Followed categories will be added to My News. An Australian fashion brand has finally issued an apology more than three weeks after customers raised the issue of long delays in orders. Peppermayo, which was founded in Adelaide by Georgia Wright and Huayi Huang, hosted a VIP Coachella experience for a group of social media stars at the two-weekend long music festival. But, the content from the event quickly prompted outrage from customers who claimed they'd been waiting weeks for orders and couldn't get in contact with customer service. Now, the brand has issued an apology in a seven-slide Instagram post — two weeks after news of the anger first broke. 'Firstly, we want to sincerely apologise for the recent delays experienced by our amazing customers in receiving their orders, and for our lack of transparency during this time,' the statement began. 'We know we let you down, and for that, we are truly sorry.' It said 'external macroeconomic factors' led the business to make decisions about internal operations, and looking back, these decisions 'were rushed' and caused 'major technological and integration challenges that significantly delayed our ability to dispatch orders on time'. These external factors included the change of government in the United States, forcing the brand to move its US operations to Los Angeles via a third-party warehouse company. Australian fashion brand Peppermayo was called out by customers after hosting a VIP trip to Coachella for influencers. Picture: TikTok/Peppermayo Supply chain and production upgrades were also blamed. The brand said it had expanded it's customer service team in the wake of the issues, and said it understood the Coachella activations were 'upsetting' during this period. 'Please know these campaigns were planned months in advance,' the statement read. The brand said it took full ownership of their shortcomings. The brand said it had cleared 85 per cent of the order backlog and would likely be fully caught up by the end of this week. It said Australian and US warehouses were working around the clock to send out orders and respond to complaints. The statement said it would offer free express shipping to all orders to the US, UK, Australia and Canada from May 5 for the next 30 days. The brand said it had a commitment to ensuring every order was handled with care and that these 'hiccups' would 'ultimately allow us to better serve each and everyone one of you for years to come'. Linda Bergmann, a 24-year-old from the Gold Coast, claims she's not received the $130 dress she ordered to wear to her best friend's hens. Picture: Supplied TikTok is full of complaints from customers. Picture: TikTok Earlier this month, Linda Bergmann, a 24-year-old from the Gold Coast, claimed she was yet to receive the $129.95 lace mini-dress she ordered on March 20. 'When I went to buy it online, it said 'buy now', but after my order went through it changed to 'pre-order' with a shipping date set for the first week of April,' she told 'I waited for the dress to be shipped, but heard nothing, so I emailed and the email I got back said my email was successfully sent to customer service. 'Another week rolled by, and I still had no idea where my dress was, so I emailed again and was told my email will go to the back of the queue if I contact customer services multiple times.' The brand finally apologised to customers over order delays. Picture: Instagram/Peppermayo Ms Bergmann became increasingly frustrated, noting that she had seen multiple influencers wearing the in-demand item, and started messaging the brand's social media site. She said as a result of not being able to get her outfit, which was for her best friend's hen, she had to order yet another outfit from another brand. The comments section on Peppermayo's TikTok and Instagram posts are filled with customers sharing claims similar to those of Ms Bergmann Most are seeking answers to a range of complaints, including alleged shipping concerns, undelivered parcels and unresolved returns. 'Why won't you send our orders? I've sent 3 emails,' one wrote alongside three crying emojis. 'Can I please have some order info from two dresses I ordered a month ago for graduation?' another asked. Originally published as Aussie brand Peppermayo finally apologies after delayed orders
