Models warn against 'sleazy' fashion designer

Herald online

18 Jun, 2015 09:05 PM2 mins to read

Images of Shardz Houranis have been shared on Facebook. Photo / Facebook

An Australian teenager has issued a public warning to women about a self-proclaimed fashion designer who allegedly groped, harassed and exploited models.

Tia Wright, 19, accused Shardz Houranis of physically and verbally abusing her at a shoot for the club promoter's label, Sanija Fashion.

"WARNING ALL LADIES! SANIJA FASHION label is not a nice brand/person to work with ... This label is very digrading [sic] for women and none of the many girls that have come from this label have been treated respectfully," she posted to the private Facebook group Photographers and Models.

Ms Wright, from Sydney, also set up Facebook group, "Say NO to Sanija Fashion," posting pictures of Houranis seemingly man-handling models.

The page has has attracted nearly 1500 likes so far, and contains more claims of Houranis inappropriately touching models and refusing to pay for photo shoots.

Women have also posted screen grabs of hostile text messages they claim they have received from Houranis.

Fairfax Media said that Houranis had refused to comment on the claims.

Models, photographers and makeup artists have all claimed Houranis never paid for their services, Fairfax Media reported.

Ms Wright told Fairfax Media that Houranis had behaved inappropriately toward her on four separate swimsuit shoots last year.

"There were numerous times where he put his hands into my top, felt my boobs, and said 'yes, size B'," she said.

"He'd yell at me and the other models, and get up very close, right up against your body, and grab your hips, and arse, and your chest and twist your body into poses," she said.