A TV star has been accused of ‘copying’ a family clothing business based in Barnsley whose owner took to social media to say she was ‘disgusted’.
Laura Newman, owner of Forever Sewing, a children’s clothing range which launched in 2015 in Barnsley, has accused Sam Faiers, made famous in the ITV show The Only Way Is Essex, of jeopardising her family-run business after images emerged of Sam launching a business with similar products. The reality star denies ‘ripping off anyone’s designs’.
In a Facebook post which had been shared more than 1,500 times before it was removed, Laura said she was ‘absolutely devastated’ to see Sam’s products and that she had been sending the reality TV star free garments since 2017.
The post said: “Messages recorded over the last two years asking continuously for free clothing and sending lists upon lists all of which we have sent to her and all along she was taking them to cheap factories and matching them like for like.”
Accompanying the message were copies of the messages between Laura and Sam, with one picture including a long list of clothing Sam had requested for her three-year-old son.
Sam Faiers has addressed the accusations on her social media and said: “I always try and support small businesses where possible and tag brands who so kindly send things to myself and my family.
“Naturally I can’t post everything but I do my best. Over the past couple of years I’ve provided tens of thousands of pounds of free publicity to the brand and have tagged them and secured media coverage for them.
“I’ve always been grateful for the gifting and naturally they understand the value that it’s worth to them in terms of sales, they’ve advised us that a big factor in why they are as big as they are today is due to my constant plugging of their brand.
“I’m not ripping off anyone’s designs, if you search the internet you will see loads of similar brands selling similar products. I DM’d (direct messaged) them back in August telling them I was starting my own personalised clothing range and they thanked me for letting them know.
“Had they come to myself or my team I would have listened to their concerns and tried to work with them to resolve this, instead I’m disappointed to see that the owners have decided to slander me across social media.
“That’s all I’m going to say on the situation.”
