Briefs
FGI conference
SYDNEY: Australian fashion designers, retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers interested in attending Fashion Group International's (FGI) international conference are being urged to register before the August 31 deadline. Key highlights of the four-day conference include a swimwear parade on Sydney's Balmoral Beach featuring Seafolly, Kooee, Done, Mr Julius and Helen Kaminski; a fashion flash panel discussing moderated by the Australian correspondent for Women's Wear Daily Patty Huntington and featuring Jayson Brunsdon, Wayne Cooper, Arthur Galan and Aurelio Costarella; as well as a panel discussion where leading retailers examine the pros and cons of retailing on the main street, the mall and the virtual store. For more: thecuttingedge@fgi.org
Come on!
SYDNEY: Australian actress Bec Hewitt is set to release her own childrenswear line in December. The wife of tennis champion Layton Hewitt was due to launch her first boy's and girl's apparel collections in 2005 but was delayed following the birth of her daughter Mia. Targetted at children aged between four and eleven, the range includes "mix and match" skirts, pants, tops, dresses and tees priced from $14.99 to $29.99. The line, developed in collaboration with Jupi Corp managing director Bruno Schiavi, will be manufactured in China and sold through a major Australian retailer. Schiavi, who has collaborated with international celebrity Priscilla Presley and radio jockey Jackie O in the past, currently supplies lingerie, underwear and apparel to Target and Big W stores throughout the country.
Technically speaking
ALBURY: The Technical Textiles and Nonwoven Association will stage its annual conference, The Three Rs - Recreation, Resources and Retirement, in Albury from August 30 to 31. Staged at Country Comfort Hovell Tree Inn, it will cover a wide range of issues including intellectual property rights, resource efficiency in manufacturing, medical applications of fibre and textiles and the role of textiles in promoting water conservation. Key speakers include Shadow Minister for Industry, Innovation, Science and Research Senator Kim Carr and textile specialists Dr Andrew Poole, Dr Peter Cookson and Dr Niall Finn. For more ttna.com.au/conference.htm.
Looking tough
SYDNEY: Effeminate jewellery brand Moi Moi is set to muscle up. The Sydney headquartered brand, which boasts its own flagship store in the Queen Victoria Building, has just released a new range of accessories for men. Sourced from Italy and dubbed Maschio, it comprises of cuff links, rings, bracelets, bangles and pendants priced from $70 to $220. Targeted at "the modern man", Maschio includes 68 pieces in total and fuses stainless steel settings with black rubber, wood, ceramics and gold inlays. Each piece contains hypoallergenic properties, high scratch and dent resistance and is highly resistant to tarnishing.
ARA appointment
MELBOURNE: Former Franchise Council of Australia CEO Richard Evans has been named executive director at the Australian Retailers' Association (ARA). The appointment of Evans, who takes up the post on November 7, follows the resignation of ARA acting executive director David Edwards. It is understood the appointment was made after an exhaustive search by the ARA and recruitment firm McKenzie Consulting. Evans said he was excited by the challenge the new role presented and looked forward to ensuring "those issues affecting retailers are brought before governments and regulators at all levels in a clear and strong voice".
Clarification
NATIONAL: In the July 27 edition of Ragtrader magazine, a caption identified Annemarie Carpenter as a student of Challenger TAFE. Carpenter is in fact an ambassador for the Perth Fashion Festival.
Sussan's no-man land
SYDNEY: More than four weeks since the abrupt departure of its CEO Felicity McGahan, Australian womenswear retailer Sussan has yet to announce a replacement. When Ragtrader contacted the company for further information, people and development manager Robyn Batson responded with a firm "no comment".
Fiorenza flavour
QUEENSLAND: A unique new wool knit fabric has become for Brisbane designer Pina Fiorenza what basic jersey was for Chanel - an unexpected success. Well-known in Queensland fashion circles for her bridal collections, Fiorenza was recently approached by the Creative Industries Skills Council to use a new pedestrian fabric in her eveningwear collections. Developed after many years of research by Australian woolgrowers, the wool jersey knit fabric - dubbed Micron Knit - is made from microfibres of merino sheep wool yet achieves the "drape-ability" previously only achieved by more classic fabrics such as crepe de chine or soft velvet. Having received federal funding for the initiative, Fiorenza debuted the collection during a wool parade in Brisbane late last month.
Funding freefall
SYDNEY: Fashion Group International is set to host a breakfast workshop focussing on funding assistance opportunities for small businesses via the TCF Small Business Program run by Ausindustry. The program provides merit-based grants of up to $50,000 to enterprises with less than 20 employees. A total of $2.5 million is available under this program each year, for the period from July 2006 to June 2016. Speakers at the September 4 event include Ausindustry spokesperson Jana Ceferin, Australian Fashion Partners' Dominic Beirne and Feelike designer Karen Anderson. For more: 0401 333 351.
Austin hits the road
MELBOURNE: Branded apparel supplier Austin Group is on the move. The Victorian headquartered brand is moving its administration, design, marketing and sales offices away from their Geelong home into a new location in Port Melbourne. The move, which takes place in January, is aimed at offering staff and customers more convenient access to airports and freeways. Austin will retain its warehousing operations in Geelong. The change is not the only move affecting the group, with CEO Brendan Santamaria also appointing former Hartman Pacific managing director Doug McLean as Austin's new chief financial officer.
Driza's own island
HAMILTON ISLAND: Fresh from the public launch of its new active lifestyle range, heritage brand Driza-Bone has opened a new concept store on Hamilton Island. Located in a new retail complex in the island's marina village, the store features the brand's traditional oilskin collections as well as its new merino performance and active clothing ranges. Driza-Bone CEO Rod Williams said the move would further cement the company's position as a "leading lifestyle brand".