Luxury menswear powerhouse Harrolds has implemented a branding overhaul in a bid to broaden its market share.

Last year it was the thorn in every budget - this year, the Australian dollar has proven to be a sweetner for international buyers headed to Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW).

The new parent group of swimwear brands Moontide and Bond-Eye has wasted no time in getting its hands dirty, aggressively pursuing overseas markets, introducing new diffusion lines and altering staff.

"My budget will depend on demand and demand has definitely weakened."

As the global fashion market contracts, Asia represents the "great white hope" for many Australian exporters.

I have earned my living in retail fashion and related products for over 25 years and I can honestly say that it has been an exhilarating ride.

I don't mean to be the prophet of doom but as is already obvious the first four months of 2009 have not been kind to many Australian fashion businesses - whether big or small.

It might have been the spring/summer instalment of Fashion Exposed but not all designers upped the colour palette and lowered the thread count.

There's not much fun in being 80 years old - unless you happen to be textile wholesaler Martin & Savage which was born in 1928.

The worlds of fashion and funk fused in Sydney earlier this month when True Alliance brand Ben Sherman staged its inaugural Big British Sound event.

The country's best dressed fashion writers, editors, bloggers, publicists and designers were out in force last week to celebrate the third annual Rosemount Australian Fashion Week dinner.

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week is an opportunity for designers to flaunt their ready-to-wear collections.

Think of wool as an autumn/winter fabrication? Jayson Brunsdon, Gary Bigeni and Romance Was Born beg to differ, as Ragtrader discovers.

Failure to attract investment capital can often be the biggest "limiter" affecting the growth and development of a business.

The death of Leon Lehrer on 29 January, 2009, marked the passing of one of the giants of the Australian textile industry.

For a former stationary designer, Cashmere Angel designer Isabel Loxton enjoys being anything but.