The fractured textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) sector looks set to enjoy a new lease on life as a result of measures announced in Wayne Swan's federal budget last week.

Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan may almost have achieved the impossible - getting the waring factions involved in the textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) sector to finally lay down their guns.

Luxury fashion house Gucci has sued rival fashion label Guess alleging it copied a dress design and several trade marked logos.

The niece of Covers Design owners Barry Taffs and Marilyn Said has diversified her fashion career with the launch of womenswear label Luci In The Sky.

"I realised I was pregnant when the stock market crashed."

There could be a silver lining to the spate of redundancies plaguing the textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) sector, according to fashion recruitment experts.

Independent fashion designers have expressed relief at the federal government's decision to retain a program which opens up $2.5 million worth of annual grants.

The creator of men's label Subfusco is taking on the womenswear and corporate sectors.

Scores of TCF companies have had their risk profile or bill payment outlook downgraded in recent months, according to credit reporting agency Dun & Bradstreet.

They learned some tough lessons in their first year of operation - now designers at The Graduate Store are grappling with even tougher ones in the wake of its closure.

David Jones has identified ongoing brand introductions as a source of growth under the current economic climate.

One fashion magazine that is not suffering an advertising downturn is Myer Emporium, a thick, glossy publication that is generously supported by suppliers who, I suspect, are laughin' on the outside and cryin' on the inside at the cost of being in its pages.

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week wasn't all about business.

It's fitting that garments at Cherry Noire do not dangle from plastic hangers but are instead pinned tightly against the wall.

In the current climate, it is wise to emphasise your "pop" pieces through visual merchandising and window displays.

Life doesn't have to end at death, at least not for a fashion business. If you act early enough, handing over control to an external manager may also be avoided.