Ben Roberts-Smith's online clothing brand explodes with orders

Controversial former SAS corporal and Victoria Cross recipient, Ben Roberts-Smith, launched a clothing brand last week - and it's already seen more than 17 500 orders, according to news.com.au.

Roberts-Smith unveiled his online store, EPIC 1 TWO, via Instagram a little over a week ago. The store sells merchandise branded with the company name, including T-shirts, hoodies and caps. The range costs $49 to $85, and there is a 10% discount for military personnel.

The brand name is Roberts-Smith's former military radio call sign.

The 47-year-old had his first in-person interview in seven years with news.com.au, which was published on Sunday. Combined with the launch on Instagram the previous weekend, the EPIC 1 TWO site has had “over 230,000 website visits and amassing 75,000 Instagram followers in the first week.”

 

 

 

 

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The mammoth response has exceeded expectations, as Roberts-Smith was arrested last year when he was boarding a flight from Sydney, charged with five counts of war crimes in Afghanistan during his service between 2009 and 2012.

Roberts-Smith has denied the charges and is currently on bail. His case requires orders under the National Security Information Act before the brief of evidence can be fully served, and status hearings are progressing through the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions and Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court.

“When I was fighting in Afghanistan I kept going because I believed in Australia and doing whatever I could to protect our way of life,” Roberts-Smith told news.com.au. “I was fighting for Australians then … now they’re fighting for me.”

He added, “I’m completely overwhelmed by the support I’ve received from so many Australians.

“I may not get to speak to everyone, but it’s their support that I rely on when I’m having a bad day. I’m just so grateful and I really want them to know that.”

Last weekend, Roberts-Smith told his online subscribers: “The day I was arrested and escorted onto the tarmac, I had no idea the images would capture three words emblazoned on the aircraft behind me. Spirit of Australia.”