Nadia Bartel speaks out about backlash over her Sydney Henne store and marriage plans with boyfriend Peter Dugmore

Aussie fashion designer Nadia Bartel has responded to the backlash over the recent opening of her Sydney Henne store.

The 39-year-old opened a Henne store in Paddington in June, exactly two years after opening the brand’s first shop in Melbourne in 2022.

However, the new store has had mixed reviews from shoppers, with some taking to social media to voice their displeasure over the long wait times at the boutique.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at Derby Day in Melbourne on Saturday, the fashionista said that she sympathised with the disgruntled shoppers. 

‘It was really hard seeing that,’ Nadia said.

‘I imagine how frustrating that would be. That’s not what you want your customers to experience.’

Nadia added that the long wait times were just teething problems that she was looking to have ironed out as soon as possible.

‘I think we just didn’t anticipate how busy the store would be,’ she said.

‘It’s growing pains really so we’re really trying to work through what we can do to make it better.’

Nadia added that the plan for Henne was to focus on the Australian market for the foreseeable future, admitting there were many exciting ideas in the pipeline. 

‘We’re focusing on stores around Australia, she said.

‘It’s just been so nice to look at our market here and grow it more and look at different ways to connect with our customers as well.

‘We love what we’re doing but I feel like we’ve got so many more ideas so the next two or three years are going to be really exciting for us.’

Nadia was a vision in white stepping out in Melbourne for Derby Day in a pencil skirt and white buttoned shirt which featured a bold plunging neckline.

The Henne co-founder donned a more conservative sleeve with her shoulders completely covered.

She hid her dark locks beneath a wide-brimmed black hat from milliner Melissa Jackson, which matched her chunky earrings, heels, and YSL handbag.

Nadia’s Sydney Henne store got off to a less than stellar start when it opened in June.

One angry shopper took to TikTok to give an insight into her experience at the boutique, revealing she didn’t even make it inside the store after being told there was a two-hour wait.

Other shoppers agreed with her dismal review as they claimed both boutique locations are often jam-packed with shoppers and accused the staff of being ‘rude’.

Amid the criticism, Nadia and Henne’s representatives have since apologised in a statement for any ‘disappointment’ caused and cited the ‘rapid’ rise in demand at Henne’s in-person stores.

Nadia, who split with her AFL star ex husband Jimmy Bartel in 2019, is currently in a relationship with former footballer turned model Peter Dugmore.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia on Saturday, Nadia revealed marriage was currently not on the cards for the couple.

‘I don’t think so,’ she laughed. 

‘You know when you’ve done that then you’re like I don’ know If I’d do that again.’

‘But when you meet someone that you feel like you want to marry it’s a good feeling. We are so happy. He’s a good boy.’

Nadia and Peter went Instagram official in 2022.

The pair confirmed their relationship by getting hot and heavy in a photo shared to Instagram Stories.