Awards adds new categories

Retail chains and individual boutiques have been given their best chance yet of In an attempt to better distinguish between large and small chains, while also acknowledging the unique offerings from boutiques, award organisers have tripled the number of categories previously featured in the program.
The changes will result on fashion chains being divided into categories, dependent on size, while boutiques will be judged dependent on product category.
The full list of categories includes under-20 and over-20 chains, as well as best kidswear retailer, best menswear retailer, best womenswear retailer, best youth retailer and best mature market retailer.
The addition of extra categories are just one of many changes made for this year's awards, which include the introduction of an industry panel together with the switching of the award event from a luncheon to a cocktail evening.
Meanwhile entries continue to pour in for the awards with nominations received for a host of chains and boutiques including Western Australian womenwear boutiques Morrison, Queensland-headquartered menswear chain Always Habit, Victorian boutique Meek and Folly and New South Wales boutique Villoni Fashions. National chains are also well represented in the mix with Sussan, Noni B, Oxford and Blue Illusion among the contenders for this year's awards.