Designer Jason Grech blacklisting freeloaders trying to pay in ’exposure’

A red carpet specialist has put freebie hunters on notice, with influencers and some of Australia’s biggest names exposed as fashion freeloaders.

Jason Grech says Michelle Payne is a celebrity he is always willing to style.

The fabulous Jason Grech is officially on strike to freeloaders looking for a freebie.

And don’t think it’s just influencers looking for a free frock. Some of Australia’s biggest names are the biggest freeloaders.

The Melbourne red-carpet designer to the stars is inundated with requests from stylists, celebrities and just plain wannabes looking for handout.

They want to be dressed in his custom-made gowns in exchange for “exposure.”

But Grech doesn’t need exposure after 20 years of building his eponymous label on the ruby rug.

A Jason Grech gown at Melbourne Fashion week.

He has made it without the help of social climbers on social media.

“I can’t tell you how many times I take phone calls from stylists who don’t want to pay a single penny, none,” Grech says.

“This is why we have stopped doing it. We need to protect the younger designers. If designers like myself don’t put a stop to it, it’s going to keep happening.

“I have been around for a long time and I feel like I have navigated my way through it,” Grech says.

“If I were starting out, it’s a bit like the piranhas are about.

“We understand the power of Instagram and social media. Designers who started not long after me are still giving out free stuff to those same bloody people 10 or 15 years later. They don’t realise they are never going to pay you.”

Social media as an advertising tool can be good for the brand. Grech has a band of “angels” he works with, including Melbourne Cup winning jockey Michelle Payne and Miss Universe Australia Maria Thattil.

They wore his custom pieces to Wednesday night’s F1 Glamour on the Grid extravaganza. But they often pay.

Melissa Leong in a Jason Grech design. Picture: Jason Edwards

Stylists who are already being paid by a client and the wannabes asking for freebies need to be put on notice.

Social media frauds looking a free feed in exchange for Insta posts are a plague on the hospitality industry.

The biting Instagram account #couscousforcomment by The Australian’s food critic John Lethlean has gone viral with chefs posting freeloading requests.

Just this week Grech had a call from an influencer with a mere 17,000 followers asking for four bespoke pieces she would pose in on social media.

She also asked Grech for a $1,500 fee. Poser!

Grech says the handout requests come daily, but designers are scared to call out the freeloaders.

He recently had a request for freebies from a high-profile Australian stylist for an upcoming Australian tour.

Michelle Payne dressed in Jason Grech.

Grech at his atelier.

All custom pieces, but nothing in exchange for his considerable time, effort and cost apart from some social media acknowledgment.

“In the past sometimes we’d do it and not charge them. But we are probably the only ones not getting paid,” says Grech at his North Melbourne atelier.

“The stylist is 99 per cent of the time going to get paid but the person doing the most work, the person committing the most money is the designer.

“We obviously have to pay for fabric, staff and time, which is why we have put a stop to it.

“If you want to wear our work, you have got to pay for it.”

The fabulously talented Grech says:

“You know, I’m not doing slave labour, especially after Covid.

“Sorry, but get lost!”