Gowings comeback

SYDNEY: Some nine months since slipping into administration, Sydney menswear retailer Gowings is set to be repackaged as an online and mail-order service. Involving a $2.4 million recapitalisation plan, the new concept will be branded under a different label after the rights to use the Gowings name were withdrawn. A distributor of national and international goods since 1868, the retailer slumped into administration in November after G Retail recorded three successive years of losses.

:Fashionable government
BRISBANE: The Queensland Government has signed on as sponsor for the New Generation parade at the inaugural Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival, Brisbane. Set to take place on August 30, the parade will feature collections from award winning designers such as George Wu, Gail Sorronda, Shilo and Grbac. Overall, the festival will showcase 27 Queensland designers, six national designers, eight retail centres and incorporate 11 group shows and a fashion workshop. Festival Director Lindsay Bennett believes that 4000 people will attend the five-day event with an official opening party set to take place on August 29. For more: mbff.com.au.

:Myer's new face
MELBOURNE: Australia's second largest retailer Coles Mayer has confirmed the appointment of Mick McMahon as the new head of marketing. McMahon, who managed the company's fuel and liquor businesses, was appointed acting general manager of marketing earlier this month afer replacing Tom Lemke, who left the organisation in July. With an annual budget of $200 million, McMahon will fill one of the country's most influential marketing roles and oversee the company's supermarkets, liquor, fuel and general merchandising businesses. The announcement came as Coles Myer revealed full-year sales of $34.4 billion, an increase of 5.7 per cent for the 52 weeks ended July 30, 2006.

:Adidas goes kiwi
AUCKLAND:International sportswear brand adidas is set to open its first concept store in New Zealand. Offering a wide range of Stella McCartney co-branded women's sportswear, the complex will also offer custom-made shoes and boots under the Mi-adidas service. It will also introduce tagged merchandise which allows customers to take an item to a computerised information counter and immediatley recieve information on the product. Located at Newmarket, the store will measure at 400 square metres with an 18 metre street frontage. Adidas has 850 company owned stores and 5,000 franchised store across the world.


:Soft sensations
PERTH:A new soft Merino yarn has been developed through a collaboration between Australian Wool Innovation, Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia and Italian spinner Zegna Baruffa. The new yarn, called Fine Tip Cashwool, features finer tips which have been shown to bend more easily and provide a softer texture against the skin. It is designed for use in underwear, T-shirts and next-to-skin eveningwear.

:Textile trade
SHANGHAI: Visitors can expect a large increase in brand name exhibitors at this year's Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Trade Fair. Accessory brands such as Swarovski, Coats China and Bemis are expected to show alongside regular exhibitors such as Union Knopg Ltd and RiRi SA. The fair, organised by Messe Frankfurt, will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre and run from October 25 to 28. For more: intertextile.com.