Overheard

"There will be a lot of people asking 'what was I thinking?!' in a couple of months."

Are you saying there's something wrong with high-waisted, metallic, tapered, micro shorts with a patent purple and white striped belt and a Romanesque headscarf, Tristan Blair? The footwear and apparel designer shakes his head at the latest trends hitting the market.

"We are in a very proactive, expansive phase at the moment."
New Zealand designer Kate Sylvester wipes the sweat off her brow as she details her new menswear line, sunglasses venture and an ethical and sustainable business policy. Oh, and she's a mother of three. Need another Kleenex there, Kate?

"This was just a warm up."
Womenswear designer Daniel Avakian channels his inner Fabio when discussing the release of his debut autumn/winter 2008 collection. Avakian, who launched his label during Trans-seasonal Fashion Week, says we ain't see nothin' yet.

"It was only when one of them flew over to meet us personally that we began to trade with them."
Forget roses and chocolate – it took one Dubai retailer 7479 miles to get a look-in in with Australian womenswear designer Nina Maya.