<p>MELBOURNE: The upcoming edition of trade fair Fashion Exposed &amp; Preview will be co-located for the first time with the Australian Shoe Fair (ASF). The combined three day event would give fashion buyers the opportunity to supplement their ranges with selected footwear, bags and accessories, a spokesperson for the event confirmed.</p>

<p>MELBOURNE: Highpoint is re-imagining the concept of VIP shopping with an ambitious roll-out of&nbsp;entertainment events. Designed to lure consumers with the promise of live music and bubbles, the shopping centre has devised a series of value-added shopping experiences.</p>

<p>NATIONAL: Streetwear label Henleys is aiming to capture a larger share of the high-end boutique market. The UK-based brand will launch its new Project Deluxe line across Australian retailers from August 2008, with its local distributors, Trend Imports, hoping the brand's latest venture will draw a new client base. </p>

NEW ZEALAND: The relationship between iconic Kiwi brand Swanndri and high-end Auckland-based designer Karen Walker has come to an end. According to reports published in Fairfax newspapers over the weekend, the&nbsp;South Island company has&nbsp;cited&nbsp;a desire to get back to the brand's &quot;core business&quot; as the reason for the split.&nbsp;

<p>MELBOURNE: Local label Coussinet has secured a spot in one of the world's most prestigious fashion bibles. Founded in 2001 and now boasting strong pulling power overseas, Coussinet has been selected to feature in a shoot for the autumn (northern hemisphere) issue of Italian Vogue.</p>

Australian womenswear designer Bettina Liano has joined national retailers in their early winter sales blitz &ndash; albeit, for entirely different reasons. As reported on Ragtrader<em> Online</em> earlier this week, tough economic conditions have forced many retailers into pre-season discounting with department store Myer, boutique chain Tuchuzy and designer Wayne Cooper joining in on the sales race.

<p>MELBOURNE: Directional label Fat is celebrating its tenth birthday with a one-night-only exhibition and auction, dubbed 'Ten. The Great Fat Art Auction'. The event will showcase works from leading contemporary artists who have influenced Fat over the decade, including Rhys Lee, Matthew Griffin, Elke Kramer, Brendon Huntly and Pandarosa. </p>

NEW ZEALAND: Multinational sports apparel manufacturer Canterbury is hoping to spread its magic to a new code. The New Zealand-based brand has built a reputation for being one of the world's best rugby brands but is now looking to cement its cricket credentials after being named as the apparel sponsor of the New Zealand men's and women's cricket sides as welll as five&nbsp;regional cricket teams.

SYDNEY: Australian eveningwear designer Jayson Brunsdon is set to make his first foray into the accessories market. The designer will release a capsule collection of necklaces, chokers, earring and bracelets across Australia and key international stockists from July.

GOLD COAST:&nbsp;Riot founder Gillian Marriage has gone back to school. The swimwear designer has recently realised a long held dream of teaching after completing a Certificate Four in Training and Assessment.

NATIONAL: Fashion entrepreneur Bruno Schiavi is gearing up for yet another celebrity collaboration.The founder of Jupi Corporation, an apparel company which has partnered with celebrities such as Delta Goodrem, Dr Robert Rey and Priscilla Presley, will launch an underwear and sleepwear range with cricketing star Brett Lee in August.

MELBOURNE: Arrow-sharp womenswear label Dizingof is shooting for the heart of directional fashion, having revealed its latest store in High Street Armadale opens this month, in line with its strategy to penetrate the Victorian capital's key fashion hubs.<br />

<p>NATIONAL: Just Group has rejected an $835 million offer tabled by Premier Investments, describing it as &quot;unsolicited and opportunistic&quot;. Announcing Just Group's official response to Premier's proposed takeover on June 2, Just Group chairman Ian Pollard said the offer &quot;materially undervalued the company.&quot; </p>

NATIONAL: The frequency of large-scale retail acquisitions is expected to slow down as private equity firms come to grips with the global credit crunch, experts have predicted. The 2008 PricewaterhouseCoopers Retail and Consumer Outlook warned the intense levels of merger and acquisition activity in 2007 would not continue over the next two years.

<p>MELBOURNE: Worldwide sporting goods company Adidas has chosen The Australian Open as the launch site for the global roll out of its new sports apparel line. The Germany-headquartered retail brand will use the Australian grand slam event to launch its new apparel and accessories collection named after glamorous tennis ace Sania Mirza.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><br /></p>

<p>MELBOURNE: Craft Victoria has revealed plans to host a showcase of Marian Hosking's work. The organisation - whose remit is to enhance awareness of Australian craft and design at state, national and international levels - will hold an exhibition on the renowned jeweller from July 3 to August 2.</p>