Cosette, the Australian discount luxury clothing and accessories store, has been cleared of allegations it sold designer fakes after a year-long investigation that examined more than 1000 complaints. On Tuesday, Fair Trading NSW concluded its probe into the company, which says it sources authentic designer bags from European suppliers under parallel importing arrangements. The investigation stemmed from allegations made by Cosette customers, who alleged bags sold by the company were fake after having them inspected by independent experts.
Cosette has been cleared by NSW Fair Trading of allegations it sold fake designer bags. Credit: Oscar Colman In a statement, Cosette said it was vindicated by the outcome of the investigation, which had “a detrimental impact on our business and, more importantly, our customers, who were wrongly led to believe that some of their products ..
. were not genuine”. Cosette customers, including one who founded a Facebook group for affected clients, were disappointed with the outcome, saying they stood by their complaints.
Brisbane lawyer Fleur Sharpe says she’s angered by the outcome. “It’s insane,” she says. Cosette customer Fleur Sharpe is standing by her claims she was sold a bag that failed authentication tests.
Sharpe became a prominent player in the matter after she filmed herself taking her Saint Laurent bag to the brand’s Brisbane store to be checked. “I could easily document the differences – you will never tell me that b.