MELBOURNE: The chairman of listed apparel group Pacific Brands has announced his intention to retire. Pat Handley, who has been at the helm of the company for the past seven years, said he would retire from the board at the end of this year. James McKenzie, a non-executive director since May, will replace Handley with immediate effect.

ADELAIDE: South Australian designer Chloe Papazahariakis is among the Australians fortunate to escape with their lives after being caught up in the terror attacks in Mumbai, India. The Adelaide-based designer and her family are in the Indian city to celebrate her wedding to Bollywood star Puneet Vasishtha, due to start tomorrow.

NATIONAL: Fashion brands with an online presence have been offered some good news in the lead up to the Christmas period. According to a report from Google Australia, clothing and apparel searches would grow by 25 to 38 per cent growth over December. Researchers claimed web retailers had already reacted to forecasts by revisiting free shipping offers, which were described as major sales drivers last year.

SYDNEY: Listed apparel group Gazal has shed staff at its head office and adopted a radical cost-cutting program to help it see out  the tough economic climate facing the sector. In an address to shareholders released this morning (November 27) Gazal chairman JW Blood said the company had undertaken a critical review of all overheads and cost structures with head office staff numbers "rationalised" and areas such as business travel, communications and certain advertising slashed.

SYDNEY: Western Australian retailers have made an ambitious bid for Victoria's position as the country's leading fashion capital, mounting the stage twice at the 2008 Ragtrader TNT Fashion Retailer of the Year Awards last night. Fremantle headquartered chain Morrison and womenswear boutique Love In Tokyo were among those who received a gong at the cocktail awards evening, which was staged at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney.

SYDNEY: Designer George Gross has signed up as the fashion partner for a charity event to raise money for The Sydney Children's Hospital. Gross will dress the models for a salon fashion show on December 5 that will also include a sneak preview and Australian debut of a exclusive collection of Jimmy Choo shoes and accessories.

SYDNEY: Australian designers Akira Isogawa, Josh Goot and Nicky Zimmermann have credited supplier relationships and market longevity as the reason they have emerged relatively unscathed from the dire retail conditions affecting many in the fashion industry. The trio, all of whom were guest speakers at the Fashion Group International Fashion Flash forecast breakfast this morning (November 26), said while their labels had been affected in some way by the global recession their businesses were all trading well.

NATIONAL: David Jones' sales revenue has taken a hit for the first quarter of fiscal 2009, falling from $471.9 million  in 2008 to $442.3 million. Executives said the 6.8 per cent fall was in line with expectations and the store was prepared for a 7.5 per cent fall in second quarter like-for-like sales.

MELBOURNE: Country Road's trading update for the 20 weeks to November 15 shows the retailer defying the downturn, with total sales up 17 per cent, sales in stand alone stores up 12.6 per cent and sales in comparable store terms up 8.3 per cent on last year's corresponding period. Meanwhile sales in department store concessions were 16.2 per cent up on last year, on substantially lower clearance activity this year, with comparable concession store sales up 10.3 per cent.

MELBOURNE: In its annual general meeting today (November 25) Just Group's new owner Premier Investments has announced the details of a wide ranging strategic review of its recent acquisition. Premier chairman Solomon Lew said while all Just Group brands would benefit from the review, underperforming womenswear brand Portmans would undergo a radical transformation.

NATIONAL: Department store David Jones has announced three new store openings and a refurbishment program for three additional sites across the country. The Sydney-headquartered company will open new sites at Macquarie Centre in mid 2011, Gold Coast's Pacific Fair in late 2011 and Western Australia's Whitford in early 2012.

AUCKLAND: Pumpkin Patch shareholders breathed a sigh of relief yesterday after a buyback announcement saw shares surge by 14 per cent. Shares at the childrenswear company plunged to 79 cents on Friday, their lowest since first being issued at $1.25 in 2004 and a sharp reversal on a peak of $4.95 in January last year.

NATIONAL: United Kingdom-based trend forecasting service Mudpie is set to ramp up the competitive spirit of local agencies by opening an Australian office. The office, to officially open on January 5, will occupy the same market place dominated by Australian agencies including Scout and Melbourne-based operator Fashion Forecast Services.

SYDNEY: Upmarket Sydney boutique Becker Minty has opened its second store exclusively for women. The store, in Sydney's Potts Point, features a wide range of high end labels including Aurelio Costarella, Carl Kapp and resort and daywear by Julie Lantry.

NATIONAL: Luxury e-boutique Le Black Book has ramped up its offering in the lead up to the Christmas trading period. Operating under a similar business model to European giant net-a-porter.com, the womenswear specialist would now also include a daily blog, designer videos, monthly editor's notes and seasonal giveaways.

MELBOURNE: Jewellery label Joolz has been named as a finalist in the Australian Fashion Awards in two categories - Accessories Designer of the Year and Up and Coming Designer of the Year. Joolz designer Airdrie Makim - who beat Dolce & Gabbana as Accessories Brand of the Year runner-up in the Essential Awards at the end of last year - said she was "thrilled" with her latest coup.