At 6ft tall and plus-size, shop-bought clothes had never fitted Maree O'Connor well. Sewing offered her a solution - allowing her to use beautiful fabrics to make garments that fit just right.
One day, while on the lookout for colourful prints to make new dresses, she spotted some amazing fabrics being sold online. Enticed by a yellow floral pattern and another black-and-white abstract design, she splashed out $600 (£450, A$900) on three orders.
Months later, none had arrived.
It was October 2024, and tired of waiting, the legal studies teacher from Melbourne, Australia decided to set up a Facebook group to try to find out if anyone else was in the same boat. The group exploded. Within two weeks it had drawn hundreds of members, according to Ms O'Connor.
She had unearthed a scandal that would consume the sewing world - from China to Europe, to the US. In the group, other sewing enthusiasts detailed how they too had been waiting months - and in some cases years - for fabrics to arrive.
At the centre of the controversy was globally renowned designer, Nerida Hansen. Her company had grown rapidly during the pandemic, when she made a name for herself selling bold, distinctive fashion prints that set her shop apart from other retailers.
By then the group had grown beyond disgruntled customers to also include Nerida Hansen's suppliers. William Shan worked for a supplier in China that sold material to Ms Hansen's company - until, he said, the payments stopped. He was helpless when he accidentally discovered the Facebook group, which revealed that Ms Hansen's firm failed to pay for two fabric shipments worth $52,000 (£39,000; A$78,700) in 2022.
In September 2025, nearly a year after Ms O'Connor started the Facebook group, a public warning against Ms Hansen and her businesses was issued by the Victoria state consumer rights agency. It was the result of multiple complaints, where over the course of one year, customers claimed to have lost more than $19,800 (£14,900; A$30,000) in purchases.
Ms Hansen ultimately admitted she made some very poor decisions relating to her businesses but still claimed she was in control. However, O'Connor's determination to bring attention to the grievances of customers and suppliers has left Hansen with dwindling credibility, culminating in her announcement to shut down her businesses and start anew.
