Briefs

Genae branch out
MELBOURNE: Genae has taken the bold step to introduce its innovative range of menswear to a larger audience. The Melbourne-headquartered brand, which has operated from its Collins Street flagship store for the past five years, has picked up the first of what its hopes will be a large interstate stockist base. Paddington-based boutique Style Council and Perth retailer Brave New World are among the first to stock the brand with the recent launch of the brand's website expected to help drive more domestic sales. For more: genae.com.au

Fashion funds
BOONAH: The Fassifern District Historical Society in Boonah has been allocated nearly $10,000 by the Queensland government to stage a fashion parade of 150 years of fashion from their collection of over 300 garments. The group was allocated the money as part of a $1.2 million round of funding available to celebrate the state's 150th anniversary of independence from New South Wales. The funding, only available to community groups, non-profit organisations and local councils, will also be used to collect oral histories on fashions in the state from senior members of the community.

Wool vs Adidas
NATIONAL: The Australian wool industry has received another body blow after sportswear giant Adidas moved to ban Australian wool sourced from mulesed sheep. The move - which follows recent boycotts incited by US-based animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) - also struck a blow to Federal Agriculture Minister Tony Burke, who had written to Adidas and other retailers thanking them for supporting Australian wool earlier this year. Other companies signed up to PETA's four-year anti-mulesing campaign include Hugo Boss, Timberland, Victoria's Secret, Abercrombie & Fitch and H&M. Adidas also announced it rejected clip-mulesing, which the Australian wool industry hoped would satisfy PETA as a more humane alternative to traditional mulesing.

Clarification
An article that appeared in Ragtrader June 13 issue quoted Australian Fashion Partners as stating "part of the reason [the Homeworkers Code of Practice] had failed to attract more interest from the TCF business was because of the fact that registration fees were given to the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia." HWCP national program coordinator Tommy Clarkes wishes it known that HWCP application/accreditation fees for manufacturers applying to become accredited to the code go to the independent and incorporated joint union-industry committee that governs the code and are used to administer the code and promote the 'No Sweat Shop' label. All of the application fees are administered by the TFIA on behalf of the Homeworker Code Committee Inc.

Netting sales
MELBOURNE: Accessories labels Tribu and Fanciulla this month entered the virtual retail sector with the launch of their e-boutique businesses. Located at tribu.com.au and fanciulla.com.au each will launch cyber trade with an online showcase of its 2008 autumn/winter ranges, as well as providing customers with access to the best of both collections' 10-year archive. Designer Naomi Orsillo's personal style balanced "timeless design with fresh interpretations of the season's key looks" a spokesperson for the brands commented. For more: 03 9419 0777