Australian fitness influencer and entrepreneur Tammy Hembrow has found herself at the centre of a social media storm after announcing she would be selling items from her personal wardrobe rather than donating them to charitable causes. The 31-year-old multimillionaire, known for her substantial online following and business ventures, revealed the controversial decision via an Instagram post on Thursday.
Partnership with Pre-Loved Clothing Chain
Hembrow explained that she had been undertaking a significant wardrobe decluttering exercise and had decided to partner with community-focused pre-loved clothing retailer Thrifter to offload her unwanted garments. The influencer stated that she would be placing a selection of her personal items in Thrifter's Gold Coast store, with the collection becoming available for purchase from the following Sunday.
'Last week and the week before I was clearing out my closet – I want to make space... I do not need this many clothes,' Hembrow told her followers. 'So, I am partnering with Thrifter and I'm putting [a bunch of stuff] in the Gold Coast Thrifter that you can shop from this Sunday.'
Final Saski Collection Items Included
The entrepreneur further revealed that the sale would include the last remaining pieces from her now-defunct activewear label, Saski Collection. Hembrow explained that this decision came in response to fan demand for a final opportunity to purchase items from the brand she launched in 2017 and closed in December of last year.
'I wasn't initially going to, but I thought, since I was partnering with Thrifter, why not distribute some into their stores?' she said. 'So I'm doing it in all Thrifter stores across Australia – they're, like, everywhere and you guys can shop the final Saski stuff from this Sunday. There's some really cute archival pieces as well as some of the new stuff.'
Immediate Social Media Backlash
The announcement prompted immediate criticism from some social media users who questioned why the wealthy influencer wasn't donating her unwanted clothing to charitable organisations instead. A comment shared by satire account TammyHembrowFunnies on a Thrifter post announcing the sale encapsulated the critical perspective.
'She's worth millions, but can't donate her unwanted clothes?' the commenter asked pointedly. 'Most of them would be gifted too. Has she heard of women's shelters? Unbelievable. Gives nothing to society.'
Mixed Reactions from Followers
Despite the criticism, many of Hembrow's fans expressed excitement about the opportunity to purchase her pre-loved items. Supportive comments flooded social media platforms with followers eagerly anticipating the sale.
'No way! This is epic,' one enthusiastic fan commented, while another added: 'Yessss!!!! I'm ready to add to my wardrobe.' A third supporter captured the prevailing excitement among many with an exuberant declaration: 'I'M FREAKING OUT!!!'
Business Closure and Personal Reflections
The wardrobe clear-out follows Hembrow's December announcement that she was closing her Saski Collection activewear label, which she described as having been 'such a huge part of my life for so many years now.' In a video statement, the entrepreneur reflected on the business closure, noting that 'sometimes a chapter needs to close in order to make space for new growth.'
Hembrow's personal life has also been in the public eye following her separation from ex-husband Matt Zukowski last June, after just seven months of marriage. In recent interviews, the influencer has discussed her approach to future relationships, expressing a desire to 'take things slower' and describing herself as a 'hopeless romantic' who tends to 'get really swept up' in new relationships.
'I just want to go into things really getting to know the person and not try to rush into anything,' Hembrow told the Daily Telegraph, 'just keeping it light-hearted and fun instead of diving head first into something serious.'
The debate surrounding Hembrow's decision to sell rather than donate her wardrobe items highlights broader questions about influencer responsibility, charitable giving, and the commercialisation of personal possessions in the digital age.
