NATIONAL: The gates are officially open to small textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) businesses wishing to apply for the latest round of industry grants.

MELBOURNE: Metalicus will open its first outlet store at the South Wharf DFO on Thursday, joining a stable of designer labels at the premium brand discount centre.

NATIONAL: Diva will roll out a raft of stores at international airports as part of its aggressive advance into the global accessories market.

NATIONAL: Mercury Brands Limited, parent company of the collapsed Mercury Brands Group, has appointed two new directors to its board.

MELBOURNE: Creditors of fashion wholesale group Mercury Brands have been thrown a lifeline.

SYDNEY: Fashion design student Ashleigh Hawdon has won the NSW Business Chamber Textile, Clothing, Footwear and Leather Industry Award, with a $10,000 prize.

SYDNEY: Thieves with designer taste have raided a coastal town boutique, stealing over $180,000 worth of apparel.

SYDNEY: Kate Sylvester will open her first Australian retail store next week, with further store roll outs under consideration.

The Homeworkers Code of Practice campaigner Tommy Clarke offers his thoughts on the #3 moment of 2009.

Leading retail consultant Brian Walker is quick to defend the #5 moment of 2009.

Department store David Jones secures an exclusive agreement with womenswear designer Carla Zampatti and daughter Bianca Spender.

Industry festival ‘fashionstate’ could be scrapped in 2010 due to a lack of sponsorship funding.

A surge in global tourism contracts and wholesale accounts will see both areas become a key focus for Camilla Franks’ label in the new year.

A raft of head office changes and a 43 per cent year-on-year sales growth have paved the way for Cooper St to open its first retail store.

Ragtrader has launched a dedicated ‘industry’ blog section via www.ragtrader.com.au/blogs, inviting members of the textile, clothing and footwear sector to offer their two cents on topical issues of the day.

Roughly 20 years ago, my family and I boarded a 35-hour flight from Paris to Sydney.