Flickers upgrades

MELBOURNE: Knitted fabric supplier Flickers Australia has expanded its finishing services to include rotary-screen capability for coating and backcoating applications. The company has also installed high-resolution equipment for colour separation and film-making. The apparatus - installed at Flickers' factory in the Melbourne suburb of Sunshine - can be used for the production of films for screen production in fabric printing. For more: 03 9313 0100.

:Enough Duff
SYDNEY: Kmart Australia's exclusive deal with international teen superstar Hilary Duff looks set to continue with the singer agreeing to expand her Stuff by Hilary Duff product range early next year. Duff recently partnered with Robert Thorne, to expand her line of fashion apparel, accessories and health and beauty products worldwide with early emphasis on the Australian and New Zealand 'tween marketplace.

:Good cause
Women's handbag and accessory company The Sak has launched a limited edition "Pink Sparkle Bag" to raise money for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Mayfair International, the distributors of The Sak, will donate 10 per cent of the proceeds to the foundation. The collection, which is made from sparkly knit fabric and features metallic trim and rhinestones, is available from major department and luggage stores nationally.

:West win
PERTH: Eleven Western Australian designers can now afford to showcase their collections after receiving more than $75,600 in funding from the state government. Ericaamerica designers Lucas Bowers, Erica Wardle and Tristram John received the lion's share of the prize pool, snaring $10,000 to present at New York Fashion Week. Other successful applicants included: DD by Megan Salmon, Costarella Design and Preacher. The grants were part of the government's $500,000 two-year commitment to encourage fashion designing excellence.

:Pays to be at DJ's
SYDNEY: Department store David Jones has agreed to a new pay package for chief executive Mark McInnes which will see him stay with the company until July 2008. The agreement will see McInnes' base salary, inclusive of superannuation, rise to $1.45 million a year and an annual bonus payment entitlement ranging from 100 per cent to 150 per cent of his annual remuneration. The new agreement also includes a long term incentive offer and a retention bonus, which will grant up to one million additional DJ's shares.

:Wool I?
WAGGA WAGGA: Organisers behind the country's largest agricultural machinery exhibition have called on Australian designers to submit entries into the second annual Natural Fibre Fashion Awards. Staged during the Henty Machinery Field Days, the awards are open to any design made purely from natural fibres such as wool, angora, mohair, cashmere, linen and silk. For more: 02 6043 3301.