BRISBANE: Queensland native Geoffrey J. Finch will showcase his womenswear label Antipodium at London Fashion Week (LFW) this September. Though the label was born in London back in 2006, it will be the first time it has featured on the LFW schedule. The LFW collection, titled Hothouse, is inspired by botany with exotic colours and prints offset by pale neutrals. Local Antipodium stockists include David Jones and boutiques Billie & Rose (WA), L.A.X (SA) and Bam & Juju (Qld). The label is also stocked by UK department stores Harvey Nichols and Liberty.
NEW WOMEN'S PRECINCT
MELBOURNE: Fashion Exposed will reveal a new contemporary women's fashion precinct at its forthcoming Melbourne installment. Themed The Designer Studio, the space will cater to brands pitched at women aged 20 to 35 years old. Melbourne-based brand Body by Dainy Sawatzky and New Zealand label Stitch Ministry are among those showing in the space. Australian Exhibitions and Conferences managing director Marie Kinsella said The Designer Studio will feature white walls and floors containing individual stands. It will also feature a long table down the middle for brands and buyers to use. Fashion Exposed will be held from August 29 to 31 at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre.
POLO FOR CHARITY
NATIONAL: Polo Ralph Lauren is launching its Pink Pony Campaign Collection into its retail stores on September 13, with 20 per cent of sale proceeds going to the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre of Australia. The range features women's apparel, accessories and homewares, with the brand's signature polo player logo in pink. It is the tenth year the company has run the campaign, initiated by the brand's founder, Ralph Lauren. The US label is run in Australia by Oroton Group.
LITTLE RELIEF
NATIONAL: Apparel and footwear retailers experienced a decline in sales in June of 1.2 per cent on May figures, according to seasonally adjusted retail trade results from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Retailers from other sectors received a pinpoint of relief, with sales in the household goods sector up 1.3 per cent and department stores up 0.6 per cent.Online retailing also increased 0.3 per cent.
