Sydney knitwear doyenne Vivian Chan Shaw's quintessentially Aussie offer has always been an winner overseas; but exporting is not all plain sailing as Belinda Smart reports.

Want to know the key trims for next season and beyond? Samantha Docherty asks the experts.

I know readers are fascinated by my well-informed digressions into the realms of science. Remember when I tried to make a connection between fashion and Charles Darwin's theory of evolution?

The problems experienced by brand owners due to counterfeiting are well known in the fashion industry. Now is the time to fight back, writes Middletons' partner Tony Watson.

Ragtraders have a vested interest in the next generation of designers - given the latter's degree of talent, they'll either employ them or be employed by them.

Assia Benmedjdoub speaks to a current and former fashion design student from the Raffles College of Design and Commerce about their inspirations.

Every edition Ragtrader talks to a previously profiled brand about how it has developed in the intervening years. This week Tracey McEldowney caught up with Faye Brown director Jane Wei.

Name Tim Goodfellow

Camden's attitude to big business can best be surmised by the ongoing stoush between its residents and the Megatrons who helm the McDonald's fast food empire.

WINNER: Mosh & Jolly (WA)

What makes once chain or boutique better than another? How effective is store layout in enticing a customer through the doors?

Judging the Ragtrader Fashion Retailer of the Year 2007 is a mixed blessing; on the up side you get to visit countless stores and talk to leading retailers about their business, on the down side, your credit card never leaves its wallet and, worse still, you have to pick winners.

As an inveterate shopper and self-confessed fashion fanatic I was of course delighted to be invited by Ragtrader to judge this year's Fashion Retailer of the Years Awards.

Known for its high recall both locally and abroad, denim label Ksubi was founded as a collective of friends and has a fresh, creative approach to marketing and promotion, with staff gaining direct interface with customers in clubs, skate parks and beach side cafes.

When it comes to retail therapy it's safe to say that Aussie males have very different but no less significant shopping habits to their female counterparts.

Having spent the past three years re-invigorating its product, marketing operations and instore experience, Just Jeans has entered an exciting new phase.