Offshore production help

MELBOURNE: Retail, fashion and textile training firm Novel Consulting has launched a new international sourcing service. Aimed at assisting Australian designers, manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers looking at options for off-shore production, the service acts as an intermediary liaising with offshore suppliers, organising sampling and overseeing the manufacturing and quality functions. For more: novelsourcing@optusnet.com.au

:Luxottica's new vision
Luxottica Retail has purchased 25 of Vision Marketing and Distribution's 31 retail stores in Australia and New Zealand. The stores, which are branded Sunglass World, Sunglass Direct, Eyegear and Sunglass Planet, were sold for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition will now add 12 stores to the company's New Zealand operations and 13 stores to the Australian Sunglass Hut network. Luxottica Retail also plans to progressively rebrand all 25 stores to Sunglass Hut.

:Flashy fashion
NATIONAL: A all-encompassing $40,000 fashion award has been launched aimed at recognising fashion talent from across the country. Dubbed the Australian Fashion Enterprise Awards, the inaugural event is open to fashion students, certified fashion designers, fashion sales consultants and design or textile faculty heads keen to showcase their creativity. The awards are broken into three categories: business, design and education with each category further divided into two levels: established and new talent. Applications close September 15. For more: afeawards.com.au

:Off and racing
SYDNEY: Edgy menswear designer Brent Wilson has opened his first self-titled store TGV while also finding himself new studio space in East Sydney. Wilson, a former protégé of Wayne Cooper, employed architect David Selden to help refit the space into what he terms a "fashion canvas" which is dominated by a huge white metal embossed feature wall. Items stocked in the store include t-shirts from $69 to suit Jackets $400 and trousers at $200. There will also be two types of shoes which will retail for around $430. New stock will be added each week. For more: 0405 833 263.

:New factory outlet
HOBART: Hobart International Airport has lodged a development proposal for a Direct Factory Outlet at Holyman Ave. Valued at $100 million, the outlet is believed to be the largest of its kind in Australia with around 100 retailers and other surrounding buildings totalling 53,000sqm. The total area will be around 77,000sqm with construction, dependent on appropriate approvals, expected to begin in early 2007.

:High-end ewes
PERTH: Australian scientists have moved one step closer towards their aim of breeding a flock of "haute couture" sheep. A team from CSIRO Livestock Industries (CLI) and the Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia (DAFWA) have been working on ways to increase the "drape" of wool in an attempt to develop a premium-quality garment fibre for fashion houses. The team's research has identified ways to test the rigidity of wool fibres and the next step will be to determine whether the trait can be inherited, opening the possibility for the development of flocks if merinos capable of producing high-quality, high-value wool clips.