<p>NATIONAL: Leading Australasian menswear manufacturer Rembrandt has forged an exclusive alliance with a renowned heritage fabric merchant. Based in Peebles, Scotland, Holland &amp; Sherry was an authority on rare and exotic fibres and the partnership would allow Rembrandt - one of Australasia&rsquo;s oldest family owned menswear companies - sole rights to the cloths, a Rembrandt spokesperson said.</p>

SYDNEY: Sydney Airport has called for expressions of interest from fashion retailers looking to secure space in its redeveloped international terminal. A $500 million redevelopment of the airport, expected to be completed in 2010, has opened up space for more than 140 new stores at the site.

<p>MELBOURNE: Luxe Accessories has designed a bag in support of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Breast Cancer Awareness Month.&nbsp;The Luxe Pink Ribbon Bag featured premium quality leather, oversize styling and stud detailing finished with a large bow, confirmed a spokesperson for the brand. </p>

<p>MELBOURNE: Next month's Melbourne International Design festival looks set to be a celebration of innovative fashion. Hosted by the National Design Centre from July 17 to 27, fashion-related events would include 'Envelope', consisting of fashion workshops and an exhibition presented by Melbourne designers Anthea Van Kopplen and Ellie M&uuml;cke. </p>

<p>NEW ZEALAND: The Royal New Zealand Ballet (RNZB) is auctioning off more than 100 costumes from past productions. The auction marks the first time items from the group's wardrobe department have been offered for sale. Made by hand - many by the late Kristian Fredrikson - the 140 listed items include tutus, tiaras and character costumes including ogres, goblins, rabbits and butterflies. </p>

NATIONAL: Listed Australian fashion retail group Noni B has announced plans to shelve its women's apparel brand La Voca. In a statement released to the Australian Stock Exchange, the group said approximately half of the two-year-old brand's 19 stores would be rebranded Noni B with the remainder being closed - subject to lessors' approval.

<p>MELBOURNE: The Victorian headquarters of department store David Jones is set to receive a facelift. The retail giant received State Government approval on June 17 to undertake an $85 million revelopment of its city store. Reports in News Limited newspapers confirmed construction would start immediately with State Planning Minister Justin Madden offering DJ's the &quot;official go ahead&quot;.</p>

<p>MELBOURNE: Australia's first CK Calvin Klein store is celebrating its one-year birthday, buoyed by recent data showing the Victorian capital as the nation's strongest retail magnet. A spokesperson for the brand said its first retail location in Melbourne Central shopping centre had proved successful.&nbsp; </p>

<p>MELBOURNE: The No Sweatshop label, the accreditation system of the Homeworkers' Code of Practice, established to promote fair and ethical working conditions for industry's lowest paid workers, has revealed plans to operate its own stand at trade fair Fashion Exposed (Melbourne Exhibition Centre, (September 14 to 16) for the first time ever.</p>

<p>NEW ZEALAND: Researchers in Wellington are claiming a &quot;world first&quot; after creating a scarf dyed with gold and silver nanoparticles. The creation, by Victoria University students, has drawn parallels to the golden fleece of Greek mythology. Created when the students added nanoparticles made of pure gold to fine merino wool, the scarf was unveiled at a Nano Science and Technology Institute convention in Boston, US, last week.</p>

<p>SYDNEY: A gamble to launch at Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (RAFW) has paid big dividends for Sydney swimwear label Hotel Bondi Swim. The brand, run by&nbsp;husband and wife team&nbsp;Fern Levack and Damion Fuller, is one of only two Australian labels that have been invited to take part in the prestigious swimwear section of Miami Fashion Week after catching the eye of IMG representatives at RAFW. Zimmermann is the ony other Aussie label scheduled to take part in the event.</p>

<p>NATIONAL: This September will see Sportsgirl unleash an array of new collaborations and charitable projects. First off, a spokesperson confirmed the young women's fashion label had brokered a new partnership with Hannah Chipkin, the designer behind Chip Chop, whose signature style comprised a mix of design, bold prints, clever word play and provocative typography.</p>

MELBOURNE: Victorian accessories label Kate Hill is set to open the first of three flagship stores planned for its home state. The store, located in Knox Shopping Centre, will throw open its doors first the first time on June 21 with further outlets planned for Westfield Doncaster and Northland Shopping Centre.

<p>MELBOURNE: Just Group yesterday (June 12) confirmed its rejection of a takeover bid from Premier Investments. Announcing the rejection, which followed Premier's extension of its offer to July 18 2008, Just Group chairman Ian Pollard said the extension should hold little sway with shareholders.</p>

<p>NATIONAL: Australian surfwear brand Billabong has inked an agreement to acquire the retail operations of one of its key partners in the United States. American east coast retailer Quiet Flight operates 13 sites across the region, including the flagship Billabong and Element stores in Times Square, New York. </p>

NEW ZEALAND: Air New Zealand Fashion Week (ANZFW) has undergone a series of changes during its summer hiatus, allowing Australian designers on the catwalk and introducing new corporate sponsors. Celebrating its eighth anniversary this year, the September 16 to 21 event will mark the first time Australians have been allowed to participate in the runway shows.