Fresh focus
SYDNEY: Its burgeoning fashion portfolio forced Westfield Bondi Junction (WBJ) to beef up its marketing team. The shopping centre has added three new staff to its payroll appointing a new senior marketing manager, marketing manager and retail manager. Katie Reeves, who has a background in retail with Country Road but has been at Westfield for 18 months, leads the team as senior marketing manager. She is accompanied by former Oroton marketing manager Karina Puglisi who fills the same role at WBJ while Margaret Miller, formerly of Facilitators Consultancy, has joined as retail manager. For more: westfield.com/bondijunction
Stable increase
NATIONAL: Wholesale-cum-retail brand Hills In Hollywood (HIH) has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Melbourne designer Samantha Chaffey. Chaffey is best known for designing the pageant gown for Miss Universe Australia winner Kimberley Busteed. The deal, will see the label appear in most of HIH's 40 Australasian stores alongside the brand's other portfolio of brands including Barijay, Juliet and SherryK. For more: 07 3261 1133
New faces
SYDNEY: The Strand continues to bolster its already successful fashion retailing mix with three well known brands signing new leasing agreements in the central Sydney-based mall. Shoe designer Terry Biviano, womenswear designer Fleur Wood and the former model turned designer Gail Elliot's label, Little Joe by Gail Elliot, have all joined the fold in recent weeks. The trio joins fellow leasees Alex Perry, Lisa Ho, Bettina Liano and Zimmermann in occupying space at the centre.
Silky deal
NEW ZEALAND: Dunedin apparel label Silkbody has signed an exclusive deal with United Kingdom-based distribution company LLC to sell its brand across England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The agreement, effective from later this year, follows Silkbody's success at entering the market through top UK chain Ellis Brigham last winter. Father and daughter founders David and Emily Cooper visited the UK in March to secure the deal as part of a series of market development activities being funded by a grant from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. The company also intends exhibiting at Europe's largest trade event for the outdoor industry in Germany in July, with the aim of establishing distribution there. For more: silkbody.co.nz
Online and organic
SYDNEY:Luxury lifestyle brand bassike is set to kick off its spring/summer campaign with the launch of an interactive online store in September. The Palm Beach based men's and women's label, which specialises in organic cotton basics, is hoping its decision to go online will boost sales and attract new customers who are otherwise unable to access its 30 Australiasian stockists. Along with structured pants, shorts, basics and shirting, the brand will also introduce organic underwear for the first time. New colour ways for the collection include matryoska red, westminister blue, cement and slate, alongside the bassike signature neutrals of silver, grey marl, white and black.