"The best thing that resulted from the whole MTV VMAs incident last year is that it definitely brought us closer to our followers," founders Cami James and Nadia Napreychikov told Fairfax Media. "We had no idea that that many people had such an emotional connection with our brand. Hundreds and hundreds of people spoke out publicly about it, emailed us, wrote articles. That's what's most important – the relationship you have with the people who support you, they're the reason you're doing what you do."

The RMIT graduates who are now based in Bali but are relocating to New York, wouldn't be drawn on the state of their relationship with Cyrus who recruited the pair to produce aspects of her official merchandise for the 2014 Bangerz world tour and later wore custom designs during a Sunrise performance.

"We just continued doing our work, and it seems like she did too. It's important to keep moving forward," they said.

Other fans like Kylie Jenner and Katy Perry are continuing with their support by donning Discount Universe for special occasions. Most recently Kylie Jenner showed off a new season sequinned bikini at Coachella, the look chalked up more than 1.6 million likes on Instagram.

Social media is where Discount Universe lives, breathes and thrives.

"Katy Perry told us at a fitting a few years ago that she found our Instagram herself. We actually remember getting the follow notification from her, it was crazy, she was only following about 30 people at the time."

The pair see themselves as being part of the "internet generation" who "have always had a disdain for the traditional fashion industry and the limited access it allowed for designers who didn't have enough money or the right connections to enter it," they said.

"That is the reason for the name 'DI$COUNT UNIVERSE' – it was somewhat of a mockery of this from the start. We wanted to prove that there was a power shift, it wasn't about cash and who you knew anymore, it became about connection and collaboration. The internet allowed you direct access to the people, and once you have their attention you realise they are the most important ingredient."

This week they will stage their first Fashion Week Australia show, something they have only just been able to rationalise since launching the label in 2009.

"Our Australian audience is quite small to other parts of the world, so it finally felt like the right time to show on schedule. Shows are also incredibly expensive, so we haven't been able to justify it until now."

The main objective of Wednesday's show is to make their followers and fans "happy".

"Unlike traditional labels, we don't rely on impressing buyers in order to make sales. There is too much commerce in fashion at the moment and too little love and art."

Every item that is shown on the runway will be available to purchase immediately following the show. The "see it, buy it" retail model is a core value of the brand.

"The six-month wait between showing a collection and having it available in store for purchase was outdated. By the time it hit stores, the most popular pieces went viral via the vast amounts of blogs and commentators that were responding to them. This made it easy to see which styles would sell the best, so mass market stores like Topshop and Zara would copy them before the designer even got a chance to release the pieces themselves. This idea is what prompted us to start a business that would release garments as soon as they were shown to the public. Some garments from our 2016 Sydney collection will drop in our store the minute the show is over."

Elle Macpherson cleans up 'wee' rumour

Elle Macpherson wants to clear up the reports she regularly tests her urine.

Contrary to reports which surfaced last year after she was quoted as saying she carries a urine tester kit in her handbag, the 52-year-old supermodel last week denied it was for personal use.

"That's a fallacy. I never tested myself. I have to clear that up, I'm not neurotic," Macpherson told Fairfax Media.

"Somebody asked me what's the most unusual thing I have in my purse and I said, 'You're not going to believe this but I have these pH stripes because I'm selling them on my website and I'm working on the packaging'. I was in the design phase of packaging and that got interpreted as me testing my pee every day."

The model, who is in town filming a cameo for Australia's Next Top Model, is dedicated to keeping her body in an alkaline state and cut out all red meat, dairy and wheat from her diet several years ago. Soon after she launched her own health supplements company, WelleCo, which released a high-end protein powder last year which she describes as "a vegan protein powder and meal supplement for busy people". A version tailor made for children will be released later this year.

"I don't need to test my pee, let me tell you, but the reality is I have noticed a difference since I changed my diet, in the way I feel and the way I look," she said.

While she doesn't believe in "strict diets" the mother of two is excited to be home, if only to stock up on her favourite Australian treats.

"The first thing I do is see my family then eat a banana Paddle Pop," she said.

When she returns to her base in Miami – where she moved two years ago to be with her husband, hotelier Jeffrey Soffer – she will be preparing to see off her eldest son Flynn who is moving to Boston to attend university. Flynn's father is financier Arped Busson and he'll be following in both his and his mother's footsteps by attending a school that has an "entrepreneurial focus".

The 18-year-old who is apart of Europe's young elite and counts Princess Olympia of Greece as a close friend will be gifted a new pair of R.M. Williams boots from his mum for his next adventure.

Macpherson also plans to pick up extra supplies of her home-made favourites including "Mint Slice and Minties".

Guinness beer heiress forgets 13-year marriage

We're a few months away from Absolutely Fabulous stars Jennifer Saunders and Joanna Lumley coming to town to promote their new movie, however, British artist Daphne Guinness provided many hammy fashion loving laughs last week.

The beer heiress, fashion muse and philanthropist was in town to open the Isabella Blow: A Fashionable Life exhibition at the Powerhouse's Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences and picked up a plethora of new fans for her warmth and authenticity.

Wearing Romance Was Born and traipsing around town on her trademark Noritaka Tatehana glittery, heel-less, sky-high platform boots, Guinness spoke of her late friend Blow and also the future –her first album.

"I'm much more of an aural person. So that's why I look like a mess half the time," she said.

When asked if the personal lyrics which appear on her EP Optimist in Black were inspired by her former husband, Spyros Niarchos, the son of Greek shipping billionaire, Stavros, she appeared to suffer selective memory loss, denying she was even married.

"That must have been someone else. I'm so forgetful," she told Fairfax Media with a wry smile.

Their 13-year union ended in 2000 with Guinness reportedly receiving a $39 million settlement. It is understood relations between the pair are still frosty.

Big names roll in for Fashion Week

Homegrown Victoria's Secret star Bridget Malcolm will be the first big name to appear at Fashion Week today.

The Perth-born model will be a "Friend of the Brand" for major sponsor Mercedes-Benz which will see her front row at Toni Maticevski's showcase at Barangaroo. She'll also be kitted out by the designer and wear a bespoke dress inspired by a Merc at a special VIP luncheon ahead of the show.

Malcolm isn't the only notable Australian face to head home for Mercedez-Benz Fashion Week Australia. The darling of New York Fashion Week for several seasons, Dion Lee is returning to the schedule while international guests Cynthia Rowley and Oscar de la Renta will show their latest collections later in the week.

Party of the week: 2016 Heath Ledger Scholarship finalists named

The 2016 Heath Ledger Scholarship nominees were announced last week at the Australians in Film's first local event. Hosted by the late actor's mother, Sally Bell, sister, Kate Ledger and actor Brenton Thwaites, eight young actors made the cut.

Home & Away's Christian Antidormi and Georgia Flood, Mojean Aria from The Bronx Bull, Natasha Bassett from Hail,Caesar!, Backtrack's Chloe Bayliss, Harley Bonnerand Meyne Wyatt from Neighbours, Shareena Clanton from Last Cab to Darwin, Puberty Blues' Ashleigh Cummings and Sean Keenan, Uli Latukefu from the upcoming Alien: Covenant and Sara West from Peter Allen: Not The Boy Next Door make up the finalists for the coveted prize. The winner will be announced at an event in Los Angeles on June 1.