MELBOURNE: The jobs of 170 Melbourne textile workers have been put on the chopping block after administrators failed to find a white knight to keep Melba Industries afloat.

SYDNEY: Network nine costume designer Rachel Hunt and fellow Raffles College of Design graduate Michelle Ullhorn dominated proceedings at Australian wool's night of nights in Sydney on April 15.

NATIONAL: Australian fast fashion chain Cotton On has developed a new store format to drive its international expansion strategy.

SYDNEY: High-end womenswear designer Jayson Brunsdon is already reaping the benefits of a planned store opening at Westfield Bondi Junction.

SYDNEY: The second of the Project Runway Australia alumni is set to make their industry debut.

NEW ZEALAND: Kiwi fashion designers looking to broaden their business base have been invited to attend a free "nuts and bolts" workshop on exporting.

SYDNEY: High-end womenswear label Scanlan & Theodore has confirmed the high seas played a part in its decision to pull from the Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) schedule.

SYDNEY: Some of Australia's most engaging emerging design talent have been named as finalists in the inaugural Fashion Palette Australia Awards.

SYDNEY: Daniel Avakian has proven its not just women who see the benefits of a man in uniform.

The five most read news stories on ragtrader.com.au in the past two weeks:

Sportscraft knits NATIONAL: Sportscraft has announced the release of a new knitwear collection.

The director of Sydney womenswear label Cohen et Sabine has received a $100,000 capital injection in an attempt to allow the company to continue trading.

Australia's two major department stores might have posted a fall in sales for the first half of fiscal 2009, but retail analysts have argued they are better positioned for the second half than their international counterparts.

NATIONAL: London-headquartered consumer and trade show firm Single Market Events has continued its assault on the Australian market.

It seems no business is immune from the global financial crisis - with administrators for fabric giant Smouha also handling the demise of independent South Australian player 'Putting On The Glitz'.

High praise SWEDEN: A new report has labelled Swedish fashion retailer H&M and Spanish fashion house Zara in the top five of the world's most valuable retail brands.