NATIONAL: Domestic apparel supplier Gazal will focus on "prudent" inventory and financial management to trade through what it has described as a "patchy" start to fiscal 2009. The Sydney-headquartered group posted an after tax profit of $9.2 million for the year ended June 30, 2008. This was an increase of 12.8 per cent for the same period last year, with sales revenue also up by 4.7 per cent.

<p>MELBOURNE: Two first time exhibitors will be launching at Fashion Exposed as part of the Leather Bags and Accessories (LBA) fair from September 14 to 16. Handbag label Waterlily began manufacturing in 2004 in India as the flagship brand of leather craft brand Acme, while accessories label Martini &amp; Coz&nbsp;features a range of scarves, jewellery and handbags.</p>

MELBOURNE: Just Group's future hangs in the balance following the finalisation of a 90 per cent controlling interest in the company by predator Premier Investments. Reports out today suggest major Just shareholders including finance giant AXA - which has sold&nbsp;a large portion of&nbsp;its stake in Just -&nbsp;are running shy of having an entrepreneur as Just's major shareholder, hinting at a shift in direction for the group.

<p>NATIONAL: Surfwear group Quiksilver has been forced to absorb a $A201 million hit after selling one of its labels for less than half the price it paid for it just three years ago. The&nbsp;apparel and accessories group,&nbsp;founded in Australia by Alan Greene and John Law but now headquartered in&nbsp;the US,&nbsp;&nbsp;announced it has sold French ski label Rossignol for about $A147 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

SYDNEY: Global shopping centre giant Westfield Group has announced operational segment earnings for the six months ended June 30 of $928 million, up 14.7 per cent on the previous corresponding period. Net profit, including asset revaluations and mark to market adjustments for the half year, was $1,285 million.

MELBOURNE: Australian wholesale company Mercury Brands has appointed two new executives to its board as part of a sweeping internal restructure. The Victorian-headquartered company, formerly trading as Austin Group, has announced the appointment of Jacki McAvenna as chief financial officer and Alex Van Rajenwaaij as general manager of operations.

<p align="justify">MELBOURNE: Childrenswear label Pumpkin Patch is planting fresh branding seeds, with the opening of a new retail outlet in the Victorian capital, following its recent 'Best Fashion Retailer' award win. With the opening this month of Pumpkin Patch's 107th store at Westfield Doncaster shopping centre,&nbsp; the brand's general manager of Australian retail, Trish Watt, said she saw great opportunities for the brand in the up and coming environs of the centre. </p>

SYDNEY: The queen of frock is set to expand her global retail empire. Leona Edmiston has announced plans to avoid threats of an impending Australian recession by opening a self-titled outlet in London. The store, in the prestigious Holland Park Westfield Shopping Centre, marks the third&nbsp;offshore sales outlet&nbsp;for the designer, who also operates two signature boutiques in Los Angeles.&nbsp;

NATIONAL: Spending in the clothing and soft goods sector has suffered a significant blow after a &quot;few&quot; months of relative stability, a retail trade report has found. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics Retail Trade report showed the sector had recorded the worst month-on-month result of all major retail categories, with sales falling by 8.8 per cent between May and June 2008.

<p>ADELAIDE: Ascot Four, the previous owner of jewellery retailer Zamel's, has been convicted in the Federal Court, Adelaide, of making false and misleading representations about the price of goods. The conviction follows an investigation into Zamel's Christmas 2005 catalogue by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), for which the Commonwealth director of public prosecutions laid charges against the retailer on December 20 2006.</p>

MELBOURNE: Victorian designer Petrova Hammond is set to go national. The 27-year-old boutique owner will shortly have one of her designs manufactured by Myer and sold under its Basque private label after winning a challenge staged as part of TV reality show <em>Project Runway.</em>

Easier ways to make a living More at home on a cricket pitch than a runway, new Bonds ambassador Michael Clarke made his underwear debut on a wintry Wednesday night at Sydney's Gazebo Wine garden recently.

Innovation and differentiation are increasingly crucial for success in the crowded lingerie market. And as lingerie continues to become more fashion focused consumers have more choice than ever before. Samantha Docherty reports.

Apparently spring is approaching. It must be because we've now had the official launch of Melbourne Spring Fashion Week - made memorable by the introduction of the founders of a certain local label as "Spring Fashion Week's Fat ambassadors".

Assia Benmedjdoub talks to a current and former fashion design student from the Whitehouse Institute of Design about reality versus fantasy.

Ragtrader asked intimate apparel designer Bruno Schiavi to keep a diary of his day spent shooting the new campaign for his underwear line, a collaboration with Australian cricketer Brett Lee. This is the result.