FGI roadshow Part III – Fashion Exposed

urban original totes @ fashion exposed

A funny thing happened on the way to New Zealand Fashion Week. I was co-opted by Fashion Group International to moderate yet another panel discussion at one of their Fashion Flash trends forecasting seminars – this time inside the autumn/winter 2009 showcase of the southern hemisphere’s biggest apparel trade show: Fashion Exposed. Lordy, that makes three Fashion Flashes in six weeks.

Caught a plane this morning, which was delayed. Arrived at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre just in time to have a quick meet-and-greet with my fellow panellists:

• Jo Parkinson (Geoff Bade)
• Milliner Katerina Miaoulis (Memsahib)
• Julie Angerosa (Anna Fiori shoes)
• Suzie Rose Vella (Pizzuto)

(L to R) parkinson, miaoulis, angerosa and rose vella

I’ve now seen this FGI fall/winter 0809 video about five times and I feel like I know it back to front.

I still giggle when the Marc Jacobs BB bag comes up on the screen in the accessories section.

After the video we chatted about their respective winter ranges, how they are all coping with the tough retail climate – with Miaoulis offering the best anecdote of all (which I’ll blog a little later).



Checked out the trade show – very briefly, as I had to dash to the airport for a connecting flight to Auckland.

Chanced upon a brand I’ve seen here and there but never really knew much about – and which, beyond its Prada knockoffs, had some pretty cool print canvas bags: Urban Originals. I am reliably informed print canvas totes are an Urban Originals signature. I gather this brand has been in business for years and sells to around 1500 stockists in Australia.

On the way out the door I chanced upon a new Australian fashion sibling duo.

You know fashion sister acts Nicole and Simone Zimmermann (Zimmermann), Genevieve and Alexandra Smart (Ginger & Smart) and sole sisters Andrea and Joen Tan (the Andrea & Joen shoe brand).

Now meet Bianca and Kveta Fiebiger.

They’re not quite Oz rock n’roll royalty but close to – the Feibiger family owned the Musicland record label and both sisters used to work for Melbourne hip hop label Obese Records.



Feibiger Shoes launched last year, currently boasts 40 Australian stockists and AW09 is the second season.

The 29-style, ice cream parlour-nosed winter collection has some pretty jewel toned satin mules with diamante embellishment, some two-tone patent sandals (with Burberry-look uppers) and some very cute patent wedges in eye-popping gelato colours, which the Feibigers are calling “Gelettos”.



Both sisters are well-versed in the Tokyo street scene: Kveta lived there for three years and Bianca has spent quite some time there as well.

With RRPs of $89.95 for the Gelettos up to $99.95 for the exxiest item in the collection, it’s a cute young brand.