Fashion label caught up in drug case vows to continue

Fashion label owner Jason Crawford is behind bars and has resigned from his company and now his former partner says she is determined to develop the business without him.

Crawford, 35, was remanded in custody yesterday after breaching bail conditions imposed following his arrest on drugs charges.

The owner of Insidious Fix was granted bail on Tuesday after being charged with cultivating cannabis and allowing a premises to be used for the purpose of cannabis cultivation.

But he breached his bail conditions and was arrested again on Thursday.

In Auckland District Court yesterday, Crawford admitted he had failed to report to police as part of his bail conditions and his lawyer, Gary Gotlieb, said there would be no application for further bail.

Judge Ann Kiernan remanded Crawford in custody until Thursday, when he is likely to face more charges.

Kylee Davis, business partner and designer at Insidious Fix, said last night that the label remained "committed to developing its burgeoning business".

"We have been as shocked and saddened as anyone by the recent developments," she said. "It's a tough time for all of us, but you are defined by how you deal with the tough times."

Ms Davis, the principal shareholder, said Crawford had resigned and she remained focused on the "continued successful growth" of the firm.

Crawford's arrest and the charges relate to what police called a "huge and sophisticated" drug operation in an Onehunga factory.

Officers raided the Selwyn St site on Monday and discovered mature cannabis plants and cannabis plant "heads", allegedly worth hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The cache was found in the same building that houses the Insidious Fix factory shop, but Ms Davis said the premises was not owned or operated by the company.

Insidious Fix burst on to the fashion scene when Crawford and Ms Davis won the Benson & Hedges Supreme Fashion Award in 1995.

The 10-year-old clothing label featured in last month's Air New Zealand Fashion Week, with Crawford and Ms Davis taking a curtain-call on mini chopper bikes.