REDFERN: Marie is a familiar and friendly face at clothing outlet Labels On Sale in Redfern Street (on the corner of Regent Street). Louisa Dyce caught up with Marie to discuss fashion, business and the management of her shop.
How long have you worked in Redfern?
I have been working in Redfern for 26 years. For over two years at a store called Wombat. It was just up the road. Then I started here [at Labels On Sale] on the 1st of July in 1990. So it’s 24 years I have been here. It is a long time. The shop has changed names. It was called Cheap And Chic, and in 2004 we changed our business name to Designer Labels On Sale.
Tell me about how your shop has changed over the years?
You will find that we organise the store differently to other retail fashion stores. Designers give us a lot of one-off pieces that only come in one size. To help out our customer we have our display done in sizes. That way it makes it easier for the customer to find and try on clothes rather than go through styles. We have a big variety of stock.
The other major difference that happened with the store is we took the roller shutters down. They were removed in January 2011. It does make the shop more welcoming and the residents like looking at window displays, and I agree with them that it’s much nicer.
Where does your clothing come from?
Most from Melbourne and Sydney straight from manufacturers/designers and importers. They give us their end of lines, samples, cancelled orders, so there are very different styles from what you might find in a normal shop.
Who should come and see you to get a great buy?
We welcome everyone, however, it’s more for women over 30 who love interesting fashion. We have over 20 designer labels from Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and some imports. We are a genuine designer clearance store for many different labels, and savings are from 60 per cent off to 85 per cent off recommended retail price. We have imaginative and edgy pieces, which make for effortless dressing. We sell things that you can wear to work and then dress up for an evening out.
Right now we have a further 20 per cent off all our mark downs!
The fashion has changed over the years. Which style has been your favourite?
I have noticed women in the 70s 80s and 90s had to really get dressed up to go out. However, since 2009 we have a new style and a contemporary fashion look has emerged. It’s called the layering look. It’s imaginative and edgy and this is the way of effortless dressing which has emerged. The look has been taken from the Euro-Asian influence and Raggedy-Ann look – very stylish and relaxed at all times.
