MELBOURNE: The Victorian Government has identified flexible training as a key component to ensuring the ongoing viability of the textiles, clothing and footwear sector.

Scarfe's roll out ADELAIDE: Department store Harris Scarfe is set to break into the Queensland market with a sweeping retail roll out strategy.

As the Melbourne-based agent for New Zealand labels Mild Red, Moss, Caroline Church, Stitch Ministry, Ricochet, Starfish & Laurie Foon and Women, Marris Fotheringham's combined heritage as a Kiwi and teacher has stood her in good stead, writes Belinda Smart.

Having spent more than a decade covering different industries as firstly a newspaper and latterly a magazine reporter I have developed rather an extensive database of industry-type reports I like to avoid.

In this sale-happy retail era, there are traps for the unwary. Recently the ACCC copped vacuum cleaner giant, Godfreys, for offering a Nilfisk A100 model for $125.50 in February of last year, and advertising that this was half its normal price of $249. However it turned out that the model in question was exclusive to Godfreys and had never previously been offered on the Australian market at any price.

Literacy advocates Fashionistas love nothing more than a great argument and so it was that consultant firm Australian Fashion Partners (AFP) led a group of merry industry types to the Dymocks Literacy Foundation's Great Debate recently.

Not yet utilised in Australia by the majority of the apparel sector, planogram software makes a store's selling space more productive. Samantha Docherty looks at the untapped market of visual planograms.

Shrinkage is an ongoing problem faced by many fashion retailers. Tracey Porter spoke to two retail security firms to find out their views on how the sector is combating the problem.

Sorry readers, I can't help myself. Trinny & Susannah are back on my radar again. The duo known for publicly undressing (others) more frequently than most of us remember to floss gains a mention here for a recent episode focusing on 'dressing appropriately for one's age'.

"Very commonplace."

Striking out six years ago with little more than $1500 and a stash of ideas, Extinct has come a long way, but as Belinda Smart discovered, the label shows no sign of straying too far from its roots. "I do have PR but I am very select about how and where the brand is promoted. I want to keep it underground and close to my target market."

Assia Benmedjdoub talks to a current and former fashion student from Sydney's Raffles College of Design and Commerce about those two dreaded words: experience required.

Every edition Ragtrader takes stock of a previously profiled brand to see how it has evolved over a five year period. This issue Belinda Smart caught up with Greta Grossberg, founder of Melbourne accessories label Coussinet.

Sydney's inner western suburb of Five Dock has enjoyed a quiet revolution of late. According to local fashion retailers, there has been a small but steady growth in specialty boutiques along strips such as Great North Road and Ramsay Road.

<p>MELBOURNE: A shock elimination&nbsp;has led to two more designers being asked to leave reality television show <em>Project Runway Australia</em>. The exodus means there are now just eight contestants left vying for the show's prize pool which includes the chance to show their collection at next year's L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival.</p>

PERTH: Australian department store David Jones has threatened to rethink its expansion into the Western Australian market, citing &quot;draconian&quot; planning restrictions and unfavourable trading regulations. It is understood the Sydney-headquartered company had planned to build a 12,000 to 14,000sqm site in Perth's northern suburbs over the next five years.