Briefs

Puma at Doncaster
MELBOURNE: Puma has opened a concept store in the newly renovated Westfield Doncaster shopping precinct. The new store - which opened on August 28 - will house a broad spectrum of sports and sports fashion product. This includes the latest clothing, footwear and accessories from Puma's heritage 'From the Puma Archives' collections and Black Label premium brands such as Mihara, 96 hours and Alexander McQueen. For more: puma.com.au

Siren in the Metropolis
MELBOURNE: Siren Accessories has released a new range inspired by the sites and sounds of urban and industrial life. Comprising oversized black bangles, pendants and rings resembling cogs and screws, a spokesperson for the brand confirmed the 'Metropolis' collection was created to transform the symbols of industrialization into modern fashion objects. With Siren rings priced around $95 and bangles and pendants priced around $120, the 'Metropolis' range is available from Siren's online stores and selected boutiques nationally.

Bonds targets men
NATIONAL: Pacific Brands-owned label Bonds has announced it intends pouring more of its advertising spend into its men's underwear range. Currently 65 per cent of the estimated $4.2 million Bonds spent on main media advertising in 12 months to May was targeted towards women while 35 per cent targeted women. However, Bonds said men were becoming more aware of fashion trends with a 20 per cent jump in the number of men buying their own underwear. The news follows the brand's recruitment of test cricketer Michael Clarke as a brand ambassador. For more: bonds.com.au

Manly musings
SYDNEY: Father and son team Steve and Brad Roach have opened a street and contemporary fashion boutique in Sydney's Manly. Dubbed Induco, the store's offerings are targeted at men and women aged 20 to 35. Brad, a product manager for an international sportswear brand and Steve, the ex-operations manager for surfwear label Mambo, spent two years selecting the site for the Darley Road store. Labels stocked at the store include Lee, Wrangler, American Apparel, Zanerobe, Nookie, I Love, Birds of a Feather, Golf Punk, Colab eyewear and Deus. For more: 0417 443 455.

Superior Bella
Australian apparel company Superior Activewear has taken over distribution of US women's sports label Bella. The range, which will be sold alongside the group's other core brand Gildan, features 15 ladies and girls styles. Price points range from $6 wholesale. Sizes are small through to 2XL. The company has imported 50,000 units, and have an additional one million Gildan pieces, at its Sydney Warehouse, all of which are selling now. For more: (02) 9676 6640.

Overdue review
NATIONAL: Those in the textiles, clothing and footwear industry face a nervous period as they await the results of an industry-wide review, conducted by Macquarie School of Management dean Professor Roy Green. Green had been expected to release his findings to the Rudd Government by August 31, however no details had been released at the time of press.

Siebel shut down
SYDNEY: Leon Marc Siebel, the former owner of multi-brand fashion retailer Global Rags, was declared bankrupt by way of a debtor's petition on August 13. The declaration follows the collapse of Siebel's business which went into administration last November, owing $8 million. Warren White of specialist insolvency accountancy firm PPB has been appointed controlling trustee of Siebel's estate. No decision has yet been made on whether creditors - which include Classic Sports, Icon Clothing, Mavi Jeans and Octane will be paid a dividend.

Myer seeks partner
NATIONAL: Department store chain Myer has launched a review of its marketing and communications contracts amid tough trading conditions. It is understood the retailer has issued an expression-of-interest document to a range of agencies to tender for its multi-million dollar creative services contract, which includes customer relationship marketing, digital marketing, TV, radio, press, loyalty, planning, strategic services and creative. Myer is also reviewing its public relations and event management contracts, currently held by Haystac in Melbourne and Torstar in Sydney. For more: Myer.com.au

Croc on prowl
TOWNSVILLE: Far North Queensland designer Mark Ferguson is set to head south to expand his bespoke men's fashion service. The retailer, whose company trades under the name The Precision Tailors, is taking his service to Brisbane, Adelaide and Mackay. Ferguson, a former Townsville Crocodiles player, said the move was prompted by the fact time-short businessmen made up a significant slice of his company's customer base. The company, which has a turnaround time of 21 days, provides traditional and old-fashioned customer services with a range of more than 1000 luxury fabrics sourced from countries including Italy and England. For more: 1300 309 272.

LMFF announcement
MELBOURNE: The organisers behind consumer event L'Oréal Melbourne Fashion Festival have announced the dates of its 2009 instalment. Running from March 15 to 22, the bulk of the proceedings will be staged at Melbourne creative hub Central Pier. Highlights of the 2008 event included a marketing breakfast, aimed at keeping fashion retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers up to date with the latest marketing tools and the LMFF one-day business seminar, thought to be one of the country's most eagerly anticipated networking events. For more: lmff.com.au