Auckland-based womenswear designer Mala Brajkovic has suspended her business operations following the birth of her first child. Winter 2008 will be the last collection for a while for Brajkovic who said she'll let daughter Mickey Miette, born last October, determine how long her maternity break will be.

MELBOURNE: A research project to analyse the TCF industry's engagement with ethics and sustainability has been proposed by RMIT University as part of its TCF Review submission.

High profile Australian fashion house Apparel Group has become the latest to implement new maternity, paternity and training measures in an attempt to retain staff.

NATIONAL: The national clothing union has placed tariff freezes, onshore manufacturing, environmental and ethical concerns and workers' rights high on its TCF Review wish list.

MELBOURNE: The industry's peak body has lambasted economic modelling deployed in a report by the Productivity Commission (PC) for inaccurately outlining the TCF sector's needs.

We recently revealed our new look Unzipped column. To celebrate its relaunch each week we will be introducing you to a member of the Ragtrader team. This week it's the turn of Jade Hamann, the magazine's ad production coordinator.

Mass market retailer Big W has teamed with University of Technology Sydney (UTS) textile design students to introduce a fresh look for its upcoming swimwear collections.

FEX MELBOURNE: Listed wholesale group Pacific Brands has lent its support to bi-annual trade fair Fashion Exposed by signing on as a marketing sponsor.

ONCE UPON A TIME: Who needs friends when you've got partnerships? Jewellery creator Zoe Sernack (Zoumou) and womenswear designer Daniel Avakian recently teamed up to create a collection based around the idea of a modern fairytale.

Few businesses promise 'Christmas' several times a year, but Melbourne's VM Agency is the exception, as Belinda Smart learned while discussing the ups and downs of a home-based career with founder Vanessa Mikulic.

Organisers of September's Fashion Exposed are touting the presence of home grown labels on its stands as a key point of difference, so is the claim justified or just puff? Belinda Smart investigates.

The Australian Government is currently conducting a review of the TCF industries to see what's left after the slaughter it has been metering out over the past 20 years.

<p>SYDNEY: Iconic womenswear designer Carla Zampatti has been crowned the 2008 Australian Fashion Laureate. Designer Akira Isogawa, winner of the inaugural award last year, and New South Wales Premier Morris Iemma presented Zampatti with the official award - a statuette created by jewellery designer Jan Logan.</p>

MELBOURNE: Trade fair Fashion Exposed has confirmed the latest duo of new exhibitors set to show at the event from September 14 to 16. They are Italian label Bray Steve Alan - officially launching into the Australian market - and women's &quot;hidden help&quot; brand Secret Weapons.<br />

MELBOURNE: Fledging organic clothing company Humanitee has received a $40, 000 shot in the arm. The Melbourne-headquartered brand scored top honours at Vic Pitch 08, a competition aimed at providing development capital to innovative businesses.

TASMANIA: It seems department store Myer just can't cut a break in Australia's most southern state. Less than 12 months after a fire gutted its Hobart store, its outlet at Launceston has been damaged by a fire police claim may have been deliberately lit.