Now in its second year, Mercedes-Benz Brisbane Fashion Festival (MBFF) is rapidly gaining notoriety as the best platform to show off Queensland design talent to a national audience. Tracey McEldowney profiles some of the standouts from its latest installment.

Assia Benmedjdoub talks to a current and former costume design student from TAFE Sydney Institute (Ultimo Campus) about working behind the spotlight.

Each fortnight Ragtrader touches base with a brand previously profiled in the magazine to see how it has evolved in the intervening years. This week Tracey McEldowney spoke with Skye Group joint managing director Skye Group John Zylstra.

Name Claudia Chan Shaw

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E Street Kidswear owner Paula Meyers is well acquainted with the domino effect theory.

SYDNEY: High-end shopping destination, MLC Centre has relaunched its 'Destination Fashion' advertising campaign following a reported 11 per cent growth in sales per month among featured retailers.

<p>NEW ZEALAND: A New Zealand research firm has developed a unique type of fabric sure to bring smiles to the faces of nightclub bouncers all over the world.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

Each fortnight Ragtrader touches base with a brand previously profiled in the magazine to see how it has evolved in the intervening years. This week Assia Benmedjdoub spoke with Valerie Tolosa founder Valerie Tolosa.

Name: Benedicte Olrik

Times might be tough for regional retailers in Australia, but one gets the sense this hasn't effected the optimism of storeowners in Dalby.

MELBOURNE: Excessive creative juices have prompted the man behind jewellery label Babydollbliss to add some bling into his collections.

Kaftans with a scent SYDNEY:Another day, another designer collaboration. Sydney-based kaftan queen Camilla Franks has partnered with beauty brand Elizabeth Arden for a collection based around its new fragrance, Mediterranean.

MELBOURNE: High-end hat and fashion accessory specialist Crochetta has a new owner and a new look.

While it may not always sound like it, we here in the McEldowney household are a well-educated bunch.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and major retailers have moved to implement a clothing safety standard following the recall of toxic children's clothing in New Zealand.