Multi-national clothing group American Apparel has again hit the headlines, with a federal agency in the US finding about a third of its Los Angeles-based factory workers were not authorised to work in the country.

Many fashion business owners have been frustrated at some point by a bank declining their loan application.

Australian fashion importers have been warned against placing finished orders in bond, with reports international players are engaging in the practice to cork excess inventory.

“I found myself spending most of my time seeking funds and paying bills instead of making clothes. I still do!”

The drawn out battle between sportswear brand Skins and the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) has finally come to an end.

A fall in import duty rates couldn’t have come at a better time for New Zealand fashion retailers – with substantial tax cuts and low interest rates othewise failing to entice consumer spending.

Womenswear brand Cooper Street has come a long way since its early days at Sydney’s Paddington Markets.

When I first started out, the biggest issue I faced was financing.

Sometimes people call me the Holistic Stylist. I earn a crust by being a fashion stylist for Westfield Geelong and teaching yoga.

Australian brand Urban Originals has secured a foothold in the European market via an online deal that has the potential to set the company up for significant future growth.

NEW ZEALAND: Industry association Fashion Industry New Zealand (FINZ) is hoping to get New Zealand fashion brands on the move.

MELBOURNE: Sydney designer William Lazootin has been handed the chance of his career by pyjama king Peter Alexander after being selected to have one of his designs appear in Alexander's spring/summer 09/10 collection.

NATIONAL: Australian fashion retailers have been warned against placing finished orders in bond, with reports international players are doing just that to cork excess inventory.

NATIONAL: Australian denim brand 18th Amendment has suspended production in the wake of a crumbling northern hemisphere market, with owners hopeful of reviving operations later this year.

MELBOURNE: Menswear retailer CM's Fashion is being targeted by the federal workplace watchdog for allegedly underpaying two workers almost $7000.

SYDNEY: New South Wales athletic licensing group Sporte Leisure and apparel brand Greg Norman Collection have been appointed as the Official apparel suppliers for Golf Australia.