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Ethical designers
SYDNEY: Australian textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) businesses are at the centre of a $4 million Federal Government campaign to protect outworkers. The Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Julia Gillard announced a new program to develop and promote the Homeworkers' Code of Practice and the 'No Sweat Shop' label on May 02. The Rudd Government's Homeworkers' Code of Practice Program is designed to ensure that minimum legal wages and working standards art met for workers in the TCF industry. It is estimated there are 300,000 outworkers in Australia, with many earning less than $4 an hour and working up to seven days a week. Gillard said the Federal Government would work with individual states and territories to introduce a legislative safety net and relevant award conditions for homeworkers.

Raben ruckus
NATIONAL: Shoe company Marathon Footwear has been ordered to stop importing and selling all 'Raben' branded product as a result of an appearance in the Federal Court. The order came after New South Wales-based brand Raben Footwear took action against Marathon for selling a type of rubber-soled canvas shoe bearing its name. The court heard the Marathon product which features the word 'Raben' on the innersole is supplied in boxes which bear the word 'Raben' against the word 'style'. The footwear itself is supplied in clear plastic bags which also have imprinted on them the words 'style name: Raben'.  The judge, Justice Graham, noted the orders were until further notice to allow Marathon time to answer the allegations.

Spy sold
SYDNEY: Moss and Spy co-owner George Spyrou has taken a step away from the business after agreeing to sell his share of the company to designer Lia Tsimos. The sale, for an undisclosed sum, was understood to have been inked on Wednesday (April 30) and now makes Tsimos the company's sole director. Spyrou will continue to consult to the brand and help with production and distribution. Tsimos said Spyrou had played a significant part in the success of the womenswear brand and had been a "great mentor".

Label targets US
SYDNEY: Punk Glam label DavisEyes has wowed the crowd in one of the US' toughest markets. Label founder Justine Davis - who was invited to show her latest collection at Miami Fashion Week from April 9 to 13 - said the brand had been picked up by exclusive boutique Miami Confidential in Miami Beach. The boutique has also selected Davis as its feature designer for its new season launch in October. Taking place at the opulent Versace Mansion Casa Casuarina, the launch would be supported by top US retailer Saks and Vogue publishing house Conde Nast.

Design partnership
CANBERRA: Television identity Lee Lin Chin is returning to the education sytem for the sake of fashion. The SBS newsreader has been spotted on regular visits to the fashion department of Canberra Institute of Technology (CIT) in recent times. Far from re-qualifying as a designer however, Chin's visits were intended as fitting sessions for outfits designed by CIT fashion students as she has agreed to collaborate with CIT fashion students on a unique design project. The project will see garments, custom designed and produced for her, forming part of Vivid, Australia's first national photography festival later this year.