Gale lends support to annual fashion retail awards

High profile buyer and rising television personality Sarah Gale is used to passing judgement. As one of a trio of regular panellists on reality television show Project Runway Australia, Gale is well attuned to sizing up the fashion sector.

Now, after agreeing to be a judge for the 2009 TNT Ragtrader Fashion Retailer of the Year Awards, she’s about to turn her attention to you.

Boasting a new awards venue and a fresh new approach, the sixth instalment of the annual awards show is shaping up as the best yet.

With just over a month to go before applications close, entries have begun pouring in for the awards that aim to celebrate the best of Australia’s fashion retailing elite.

Ragtrader publisher Helen Davies said she was extremely encouraged by the early support shown for the awards and was hopeful it would continue.

Gale will be joined by some of the industry’s brightest lights to help Ragtrader staff narrow a field of the usual 100-plus entries down to a shortlist of finalists. Ultimately, just six category winners will be rewarded.

The full list of categories includes under-20 and over-20 chains, as well as best childrenswear retailer, best menswear retailer and best womenswear retailer in the boutique category.

The best department store title is also up for grabs with the winner determined by our jury. Judging for the awards will take place in September with winners announced in Sydney in October.