By Alex Crowe
Melbourne Royal Show organisers have been accused of turning a blind eye to the widespread sale of counterfeit clothing despite complaints from multiple stallholders about dodgy vendors.
The owners of New Zealand clothing label Ronnie Blu said they pulled their stall from the show just two days into this year’s event after alerting organisers to “at least 10 stalls selling counterfeit or fake products”.
Ronnie Blu director Framina Lambert at this year’s Melbourne Royal Show.
“We were led astray, thinking we’d be alongside high-quality products like RM Williams,” Ronnie Blu co-owner Mathew Haldane said.
“I’ve gone for a walk around and it looks just like the streets of Bali.”
Haldane’s comments come after this masthead revealed that show organisers this week demanded one vendor remove counterfeit clothing from its stall after complaints from streetwear brand Geedup Clothing.
The Sydney-based label said it warned organisers “weeks ago” that the vendor was selling fake Geedup-branded items across the national show circuit. Geedup demanded the vendor be permanently banned.
Geedup branded clothes were removed among other counterfeit labels after complaints to show organisers.
The show’s response to that one vendor – which was given a “first and final warning” – occurred five days after the complaint from Ronnie Blu about the number of fake goods being sold at the event.
In a September 28 letter to show organisers – seen by The Age – Ronnie Blu director Framina Lambert said she could produce evidence of stalls selling counterfeits.
“This directly impacts our brand and this goes against Australian law,” she wrote.
Ronnie Blu asked Melbourne Royal Show to refund its $5700 stall fee, citing damage to its brand, which trades on providing high-quality items.
In a written response to Lambert, also seen by this masthead, organisers did not address the counterfeit clothing concerns.
“We would be disappointed to see you go, however, acknowledge that this is your choice,” a show spokeswoman wrote. “As per the conditions of the agreement, there will be no refund.”
Haldane said he had asked organisers to take action against counterfeit vendors within hours of setting up at the event.
He said he was told the counterfeit vendors wouldn’t be told to leave as there was no proof their wares were fake.
Ronnie Blu has exhibited at the Big Design Market in Australia multiple times and at several agricultural shows in New Zealand.
“My partner makes superfine merino [wool], all handmade and super sustainable,” Haldane said.
He said the sale of counterfeit clothes was uncommon, as show organisers usually prevented it from occurring.
When this masthead visited the show on Friday, many stalls were stocking clothing that appeared to be unlicensed or counterfeit.
Haldane said the Melbourne Royal Show required vendors to submit detailed inventories of what they would be selling, which should have flushed out vendors selling fake wares.
A show spokesperson on Saturday said organisers acted as soon as they were alerted to “counterfeit clothing or any non-compliant product”.
“We work with the relevant regulatory bodies to ensure all products are immediately removed from site,” the spokesperson said.
“There are over 300 commercial exhibitors across the showgrounds selling tens of thousands of products.
“Inventory lists are provided for review prior to the event commencing, however, these documents do not provide detail on the specific designs or features of each individual item.”
Haldane said he expected that Ronnie Blu would not be the only stallholder skipping next year’s event.
“I actually attended the show when I was a kid ... I loved it,” he said. “This was a completely different show.”
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