Influencer Em Davies has announced her fashion label, Venem 1.0, will cease operations “for the foreseeable future”.
The Perth model – who launched the brand in 2019, sold out multiple collections and generated international buzz for its designs – shared the unexpected news with her nearly half-million social media followers on Tuesday.
In its place, Davies said she would be turning her attention to a new business venture.
“It is with so many mixed emotions that I am announcing that, as of September 1st, I will be taking a pause on @venem1.0 for the foreseeable future,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Making the choice to pull back from a business that is doing well is one of the toughest decisions I have ever had to make.
“The reality of running a slow label means you become more caught up in the business side and less in the creative space, which is ultimately where I want to be.
“It might not look like a smart move to outsiders, but my intuition is telling me otherwise, and I need to follow that. I know what I want for my future and what I want to do, and to me it feels exciting.”
Davies thanked her customers for their support, writing her gratitude “for you all is the most immense feeling”.
“I couldn’t have done any of this without you,” she added.
“I hope that not only the pieces, but the brand of Venem as a whole, has helped you feel empowered and confident within yourselves. This business has been my everything, I poured my heart & soul into building the brand into what it is, but I couldn’t have done it without the support of you.”
She finished off the message by declaring the decision “isn’t goodbye forever”.
“Since making this decision I’ve already felt so much more inspired in all other aspects of my life and businesses. I’ll be using this time to focus on Studio Precinct, my personal brand, my current projects that are in the works, and to get started on an exciting new business venture,” Davies wrote.
Last year, Venem 1.0 made headlines when Davies accused retailer Valleygirl of mimicking one of her “exclusive” designs, which included her brand name in the print on the dress.
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“This is my dress – I designed this. I designed the print. It took us 12 months to develop because it was the first print we’d ever done,” she said at the time.
She then compared it to a recent release from Valleygirl, which had a similar print and chain detail through the bust.
“It’s now stocked in all of their stores around Australia and it’s heartbreaking. And the worst thing is there is nothing I can do about it because I haven’t trademarked or copyrighted the design or the print.”
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