Hilton Fabrics has shown confidence in Australia's fragile textile sector spending "millions" to acquire a second business and boosting staff by at least 10 per cent.

FULL TANK: Women's lifestyle and leisurewear brand Lorna Jane has celebrated the opening of its 50th retail store by unveiling an aggressive new growth strategy.

NATIONAL: Two of the biggest names in Australian fashion have come out swinging against the local manufacturing sector, arguing the standard here is below that offered by offshore competitors.

NATIONAL: Sydney-based designer Kirrily Johnston is set to acquire a whole new legion of fans.

SYDNEY: Creditors burnt by the collapse of Sydney fashion house Monti Australia have taken the extraordinary decision to help finance a new apparel business set up by its former owners.

The former owner of Morrison Country Clothing has been found guilty of contempt of court following a historic case brought about by the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union (TCFUA).

Womenswear retailer Noni B has launched into another round of executive reshuffling.

NATIONAL: Intense discounting by retailers during the post-Christmas sales blitz could take the sheen off the $14.6 billion expected to be generated over the period.

High Street womenswear chain Seduce will continue its push into the domestic upmarket category and American retail sector, despite weakening demand in both.

SYDNEY: Listed womenswear company Specialty Fashion Group (SFG) has thrown up a wall of silence in the wake of widespread job cuts at its Alexandria head office - and forced those affected to do the same.

Deteriorating credit conditions could have been responsible for the spectacular collapse of footwear retail chain Shoobiz and upmarket player Evelyn Miles earlier this month.

MELBOURNE: Stylesight looks set to drive its global representation of the Australian and Asia Pacific markets following the appointment of a new Asia Pacific head.

The footwear arm of compression garment company Skins has entered into a new distribution partnership with Sydney company World Brands Management (WBM) for distribution of the Skins autumn/winter 2009 product line.

Formerly a tax lawyer, the founder of Melbourne boutique Fame Agenda is now following a sexier but no less "taxing" career path, writes Belinda Smart.

If you like Fraser's sense of humour you'll enjoy his recently published new novel Café. It is available online now at fraserbeathmcewing.com. Bookshops will begin to stock it from April 2009.

The wonders of wwwdot may have been a boon for consumers but not so for local suppliers or governments. People now think it is clever to look at a product in an Australian shop and then trawl through the web to buy it at the cheapest price.