Admittedly you will see scant evidence of it on the cricket pitch, near the rugby field, in the pool or anywhere even remotely connected to an OlymAnd no where is this more obvious than when fellow beings are suffering as witnessed during the traumatic 2002 Bali bombings where 202 lives were lost and the devastating 2004 Southeast Asian earthquake and subsequent Tsunami where more than 225,000 perished.

Australian fashion businesses have overwhelmingly supported a proposal to develop a new ethical labelling system designed to enhance consumer choice and drive competitive advantage.

A new report showing strong demand in China defying the global recession could herald growth opportunities for Australian apparel exporters.

The Italian production and licensing house behind diffusion labels including Just Cavalli and Galliano has filed for bankruptcy.

Swimwear brand Kooey is preparing to wrench the last skeleton from its closet with an ownership reshuffle and a wholesale assault on the international market.

A long-running dispute between a Sydney-based jewellery firm and government trade body Austrade is headed back to the courts.

Unisex fashion brand Morrissey is still alive and kicking - despite reports its spring/summer 2009 collection would be its last.

"I couldn't even draw a shoe and would have to scribble all over my foot to try and explain arch and spacing."

Rival metropolitan and community newspapers locked arms to boycott the official launch of Witchery's menswear line last week, following a controversial viral campaign planted in the press by its advertising agency Naked Communications.

Morgan Marks is surely Australia's original "recessionista". Having held many jobs in the course of her 23-year fashion career, the budget-conscious designer made an early foray into the clothing sector And this was before she'd even completed her first year of secondary school.

During a trip to Paris last year my friend Kandy Russo (a professional personal stylist) managed to get inside the Little Black Dress shop, known locally as La Petit Robe Noir.

Balinese-born Sydney designer threw out the welcome mat when conducting the official launch of her first store in Sydney recently.

Mercedes-Benz Swim Fashion Week in Miami has been run successfully by IMG since 2005. We were looking to take the footprint established by this event and launch it in the Asia Pacific region.

2009 is shaping up as 'The Year Of The Trade Show' for Kooey managing director Nikki Silverthorne.

Australian swimwear is so famous globally, it's now playing a role in the development of our language both here and beyond our shores.

From Iceland to Bahrain, Austrade provides a detailed breakdown of Australian swimwear exports over 2007/2008.