PERTH: The biggest event on the Western Australian fashion calendar has been forced to amend its schedule to counteract the slowing global economy.

ADELAIDE: The launch of American Apparel's third Australian retail site was buoyed by a quarter of strong same store sales increases.

NATIONAL: Industry body the Council of Textile & Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA) has written to the federal government dismissing many of its recommendations for the future safeguarding of the sector.

SYDNEY: Luxury retailer Louis Vuitton has been hit by armed robbers for the second time in as many years.

UPDATED STORY SYDNEY: As first reported in Ragtrader online yesterday (January 7) Australian footwear giant The Figgins Group has confirmed it will close all 43 of its Shoo Biz stores, putting at least 220 staff out of work.

The team at Ragtrader Online are taking what we consider to be a well-deserved break over the Christmas/New Year period.

NATIONAL:The Council of Textiles & Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA) has taken another swipe at the Federal Government's review into the sector, arguing the closure of a major manufacturer in Geelong highlighted the dire state of assistance to TCF firms.

PERTH: The business founded by Perth fashion veteran Aurelio Costarella is likely to be delisted from the Australian Stock Exchange.

PERTH: Western Australian fashion house Su has expanded its core offering to incorporate a new accessories collection.

MELBOURNE: Myer communication executives will no doubt be burning the midnight oil in the new year, following a company restructure which has sliced 20 per cent of marketing and creative staff.

SYDNEY: French fashion college Esmod has set up shop in Sydney.

NATIONAL:The Council of Textile & Fashion Industries of Australia (TFIA) has appointed two new executives to its team as part of a six month program of reform.

SYDNEY: Luxury fashion houses Burberry and Giorgio Armani are the latest to take out space at the Sydney International Airport terminal.

NATIONAL: One of the US' largest apparel retailers has joined the growing collective of fashion houses banning Australian merino wool.

MELBOURNE: Five retail specialists across architecture, branding, trend forecasting, sustainability and design will join H&M honcho Margareta van den Bosch at the 2009 Loreal Melbourne Fashion Festival Business Seminar.

MELBOURNE: The Technical Textiles and Nonwoven Association has called for expressions of interest to participate in the Australian Pavilion at international trade fair Techtextil.