Overheard

"You're a journalist – why you don't remember the stand where I left my bag?"

Contrary to popular opinion, journalists are not blessed with supernatural powers. A Ragtrader staff member fields a disgruntled call from a Fashion Exposed exhibitor.

"I wish I had some insider info."

A PR representative for youthwear retailer General Pants skirts a prospective scandal of Watergate proportions. The representative throws her hands up in the air when asked for some clues on General Pants' Great Denim Muster – a marketing initiative offering 150 pairs of jeans to lucky consumers. 

"Counterfeit luxury goods have been associated with organisations such as [Columbian terrorist organisation] FARC and [Lebanon-based paramilitary organisation] Hezbollah."

So it's not just our bank balance that's exploding, eh? Deluxe: How Luxury Lost its Lustre author Dana Thomas speaks at the L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF).

"People are always saying 'think outside the box'. Well, I'm here to tell you that 'Guess what? There is no box'".

Wendy Liebmann cops a frown from the packaging world. The founder of New York consultancy firm WSL Strategic Retail talks about the rapidly changing nature of modern retail during LMFF.

"If buyers did their jobs right, there wouldn't be any more DFO's."

Steve Ogden-Barnes sets the hearts of bargain hunters aflutter. The Australian Centre for Retail Studies program director talks about the organisation's latest range of courses for retail buyers.

"Perhaps a degree of under-promise and hopefully over-delivery there."

Ogden-Barnes offers his two cents on an Indian hair salon called 'O.K Hair Style'. Perhaps they're just being honest, Steve?

"Our core consumer shops, parties and recovers."

Paris Hilton, is that you? Grab Denim managing director Ian Lim outlines the company's core target demographic. 

"It's kind of based on the layering styles of homeless people – that they do out of necessity to keep warm."

Necessity being the operative word here, Mr Webber. TAFE NSW Fashion Design Studio graduate Spencer Webber finds inspiration in the most unlikeliest of places.