Paris Marchant: Generation Outcast Clothing founder’s cocaine shame

A fashionista who once attracted global recognition following an Instagram shout-out by Kylie Jenner has been busted with drugs for the second time.

A young Aussie fashion entrepreneur has vowed to change her ways after heading to addiction recovery following a run in with the law over her drug use.

Paris Jane Marchant, the founder of fashion online store Generation Outcast Clothing, told Judge Mark Williams of her globetrotting lifestyle attending fashion events in New York and Bali as she appealed her conviction for drug possession.

Marchant outside court on Monday. Picture: Christian Gilles

The 22-year-old, who sported a Christian Dior handbag and black leather pants, said it was “definitely a lapse in judgment” when police located 0.33g of cocaine in her possession

as she tried to enter The Star Sydney last October.

Court documents reveal the Adamstown woman’s efforts to dodge sniffer dogs raised police suspicions, who described her as “nervous” and “agitated” when being interviewed. A bag of cocaine was ultimately found in her handbag.

The court heard it was the second time Marchant had attracted police attention in connection to drugs, with five MDMA capsules found in her possession in 2018. On this occasion, no conviction was recorded for drug possession and she was sentenced to a conditional release order.

The online clothing company promotes itself as Australia’s best festival fashion store.

Marchant shot to prominence in 2015 when an Instagram post, detailing her battle with depression and the success of Generation Outcast Clothing, was re-posted by celebrities Kylie Jenner and Kris Jenner.

The 22-year-old’s social media profiles depict a life filled with designer labels, luxurious cars and social occasions.

The camera-shy entrepreneur. Picture: Christian Gilles

In court, Marchant took the stand to give evidence of her new found understanding of the perils of drug use saying she had learnt “drugs are bad, even if it is just for partying” after attending an addiction recovery program in recent months.

“It opened my eyes to a lot of it to be honest,” she said. “I have a whole life ahead of me and if I continue with the use of drugs, even just for partying, it is detrimental.”

Marchant also told the court how the COVID-19 pandemic had impacted the business but did not use it as an excuse for dabbling in drugs.

Ultimately, Judge Williams upheld the appeal after being convinced a two-year conditional release order without a conviction was the appropriate penalty.