RAFW on show

SYDNEY: IMG Asia Pacific, the organisers of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week have confirmed Lisa Ho, Marnie Skillings, Josh Goot and New Zealand's Kate Sylvester are among those who have confirmed on the collection show schedule. In all RAFW's spring summer 2007/08 collections will see close to 1000 designers on the runway during its Sydney event, staged from April 30 to May 4. Dozens of other brands will be showcased in RAFW's boutique exhibition, The Source and within the event's agent and designer suites. For more: afw.com.au

Retail insights seminar
NATIONAL: The Australian Centre for Retail Studies at Monash University will stage a series of Global Retail Insights Seminars next month. The half-day seminars on the latest international retail trends are being held in Brisbane on May 8, Sydney on May 9 and Melbourne on May 15. For more: buseco.monash.edu.au

Kiwi arm extended
NATIONAL: The Australian arm of Kiwi trade organisation New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE) has embarked on a new mission to boost trans-Tasman activity within the manufacturing sector. The project kicked off with a two week, tour of New Zealand by trade commissioner Tim Green and newly appointed senior market development manager Scott Riddle who met with more than 40 companies that could potentially manufacture Australian product. NZTE Australia is now looking to use the information gathered from the exercise to pinpoint gaps within the Australian market that New Zealand could fill with its unique capability offering.

Designer freebies
NATIONAL: High profile designers Collette Dinnigan, Akira Isogawa and Peter Morrissey have teamed with national airline Qantas to help pamper air travellers. First class passengers will be offered a Dinnigan-designed silk purse for women, together with matching cotton pyjamas, eyeshade and slippers created by Isogawa. Business class passengers will receive cotton pyjamas designed by Morrissey. The move is part of the airline's resolve to showcase Australian design.

Designer bags
NATIONAL: Leona Edmiston, Fashion Assassin and Zimmermann have teamed with mega mall owner Westfield to launch a new line of tote bags for charity. The three designers have each added their signature style to the bags, timed to coincide with the launch of Westfield's winter fashion campaign. The bags will retail for $9.95 with all profits to go to the charity Lifeline. For more: whatswhat.com.au