<p>MELBOURNE: The Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Senator Kim Carr has confirmed he will release the findings of the Federal Government's TCF Review tomorrow (September 19). Hopes are high that the review, announced in March, will provide a long awaited industry shake up with tariff levels, skills shortages and funding infrastructure all up for scrutiny.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>NATIONAL: New data released today in the September ARA Australian Retailers' Index revealed retail support for the Federal Government was low during the past quarter, despite rising 10 points to a negative 22 per cent approval rating. Australian Retailers' Association (ARA) executive director Richard Evans said the index showed the notion remained among 33 per cent of retailers that the Federal Government's policies worked against them. </p>

MELBOURNE: It might be known as Australia's leading fashion state but as far as refund policies go, Victorian clothing shops have been found to be the worst in the nation. An audit conducted across 349 stores throughout Australia last month found only 58 per cent of small to medium enterprises in Victoria complied with fair trading laws on refunds.

<p>NATIONAL: An executive from Westfield has poured cold water on the suggestion individual tenants may team together to strengthen their negotiation position with shopping centre landlords. The comments follow a retailer backlash after a government inquiry set up to investigate the retail tenancy market failed to address what tenants claim is the imbalance of bargaining power between specialist tenants and larger landlords.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

MELBOURNE: The owner of liquidated apparel company Morrison Country Clothing has been found guilty of a contempt of court charge. Brian Morrison, who with wife Judy ran the Melbourne-based wholesale business, was found guilty of &quot;wilfully&quot; disobeying a court order handed down in September last year, requiring him to give discovery of documents requested by the Textile Clothing and Footwear Union (TCFUA) as part of outworker investigations.

<p>NEW ZEALAND: Sydney model Chris Peck has caused a stir at Air New Zealand Fashion Week (ANZFW) after becoming the test dummy for a new flame-resistant fabric shown at the event. Twenty-year-old Peck was selected to brave a blowtorch after research company AgResearch offered visitors to the show a sneak peak at its new stab and flame resistant fabric. </p>

<p>MELBOURNE: Brisbane designer Juli Grbac has become an accidental hero after being named the inaugural winner of reality television show <em>Project Runway Australia</em>. Twenty-nine-year-old Grbac did not intend entering the awards but was persuaded by organisers of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival to represent Queensland&nbsp;alongside fellow Brisbane local Leigh Buchanan.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>MELBOURNE: New York glamour is set to arrive at Novo footwear stores this spring through a collaboration with renowned shoe brand Nina. Featuring satin and suede high heeled pumps with diamante, floral and ruche detailing, the Nina for Novo designer range was priced around $99.95 to $129.95, a Novo spokesperson confirmed.</p>

AUCKLAND: Childrenswear retailer Pumpkin Patch has recorded a 28 per cent decline in full year profit for fiscal 2008, citing tough retail conditions in the United States and soaring quota and interest costs. The Auckland-headquartered company announced a net profit of $17.1 million for the year ended July compared with $23.5 million in the previous year.

<p>AUCKLAND: Tough retail conditions have forced yet another executive head to roll. Shayne Quanchi has stepped down from her role as chief executive of New Zealand fashion group Hallenstein Glasson, just seven months after being appointed to the position. Hallenstein Glasson chairman Warren Bell said tough conditions on both sides of the Tasman had made it necessary for the company to bunker down its New Zealand headquarters - a difficult move for Australian-based Quanchi.</p>

<p>NATIONAL: Peak retail industry body the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has lambasted a draft retail award from the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) for ignoring Minister for Workplace Relations Julia Gillard's objectives for modernisation. ARA executive director Richard Evans said the draft award - handed down on September 12 - was over simplified and&nbsp;failed to respond to demand for a modernised&nbsp; penalty rate structure for retailers that recognised &quot;a modern deregulated retail market.&quot; </p>

<p>MELBOURNE:&nbsp; Body by Dainy Sawatzky has made a strategic move into regional Victoria. The womenswear label has announced it will open a boutique in the tourist and epicurean town of Healesville, located a stone's throw from the scenic wine growing region of the Yarra Valley. A watering hole for Melburnian, interstate and overseas tourists, the store's location also catered to a growing local market, a Body spokesperson confirmed.</p>

<p>MELBOURNE: Covert Fashions has added sunglasses brand Sabre to its stable of brands. The addition of the eyewear brand would complement the fashion house's on trend clothing labels including Decjuba, Bauhaus and Nicholson, a Covert spokesperson confirmed. Sabre originated in a beach side ciety suburb of Sydney in 2004, before migrating to California, US in 2006, where it began producing streetwear inspired products catering to the surf and skate community. </p>

<p>NATIONAL: Embattled womenswear chain Noni B has announced an executive reshuffle. Robert Critchley, chairman of Noni B for nearly ten years, will step down from his position following the company's annual general meeting on October 29. Critchley advised he would stand for re-election at the meeting and, if re-elected, would remain as an independent non-executive director pending completion of a board review and the appointment of one or more additional independent directors. </p>

<p>NATIONAL: European denim brand Pepe Jeans has launched its eyewear collection in Australia. The London-headquartered label first inked a licensing agreement with Mondottica to design and distribute an optical and sunglasses range in April 2007. The license covered key markets across Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Oceania and Latin America.</p>

<p>NEW ZEALAND: Emerging New Zealand designer launch pad the Dunedin Fashion Incubator (DFI) has opened its doors to potential markets the world over for its designers, following the opening of its online store. Located at dfi-store.co.nz, the e-shop would allow customers both local and overseas to access and purchase the work of DFI labels including Aduki, Charmaine Revely, Elusiv and Keucke, a spokesperson for the incubator confirmed. </p>