Cotton acquisition

BRISBANE: Queensland Cotton has acquired the majority of the ginning assets of the Twynam Group. Queensland Cotton will pay $25 million for the Twynam's Collymongie, Warren and Mungindi gins in New South Wales. The deal will give the company exclusive rights to gin Twynam's upland cotton crop grown in the ginning zones for the next five to six years and rights to market Twynam's cotton over the same period.

 From hats to kids
MELBOURNE: Christine James -- a former milliner for Melbourne designer Mariana Hardwick ? has launched childrenswear label Blu Bikki. The range -- featuring vivid colours, striking prints and innovative textures and targeted at children aged one to six -- is available through selected kidswear boutiques at prices from $30 to $150.

 Dinosaur and Willow
SYDNEY: Design house Dinosaur Designs has scored the contract to custom make a range of belt buckles for high end womenswear designer Willow. The hand made buckles, crafted primarily from Dinosaur?s trademark resin will be worn with Willow?s catwalk creations at New York fashion week next month . 

From NZ to Melbourne
MELBOURNE: New Zealand designer Kate Sylvester is to make a debut appearance at the L?Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival, which takes place from February 26 to March 4. Sylvester?s Stop Your Sobbing autumn/winter collection ? inspired by singer/songwriter Nick Cave?s song Into Your Arms -- will hit the runway on March 1.

Small Business Program
SYDNEY: Applications for AusIndustry's Textile, Clothing and Footwear Small Business Program close March 24, 2006. To be eligible applicants must have fewer than 20 employees and undertake eligible textile, clothing and footwear activities in Australia. For more visit ausundustry.gov.au or call 13 28 46.

Pearler night
BROOME: South Sea pearl company Autore has made a splash at this year's annual Golden Globe Awards in Los Angeles earlier this month. Golden Globe nominee and star of Channel 10's Medium, Patricia Arquette chose Autore pearl and diamond jewellery to compliment her gown. Other celebrities wearing Autore accessories included Anne Heche, Glenn Close and Diane Keaton.

Big test
GEELONG: International textile testing specialist Robert Lattie will headline a fibre, yarn, textile and apparel test course being hosted by the Technical Textiles and Nonwoven Association in Geelong. The two-day event, held March 6 and 7, aims to address the latest developments in testing equipment and test methods and includes lectures and a tour of the CSIRO NATA accredited Textile Testing laboratory. For more: lorraine@ttna.com.au