Sabatini sorted Moon Goddess was the theme and spring/summer was the season as New Zealand headquartered, Sydney-designed knitwear brand Sabatini White launched its new collections recently.

It aligns itself with Scanlan & Theodore, yet boasts a female fan base spread among the diverse Australasian, Middle Eastern and South East Asian fashion sets. So what is it about Moss and Spy that has such universal appeal? Tracey Porter reports.

A great brand experience is essential for repeat business. Samantha Docherty asks how store design can impact brand perception and identity.

What is it with glitter balls? Throughout the 'noughties' disco fever seems to have spread with the alarming rapidity of SARS in a Hong Kong underground and now it has infiltrated that bastion of all that was hitherto un-disco; Myer.

Speak to members of the fashion industry - whether they are designers, retailers, wholesalers or manufacturers - and a few things become immediately apparent: they are passionate about design and product integrity and frustrated at their perceived inability to protect their creative endeavour from copyists.

"I feel at a distinct disadvantage here without a microphone."

Rosemount Australian Fashion Week (April 28 - May 2) isn't all about the big spectacle. Assia Benmedjdoub investigates some of the economic forces at play.

* Sass & Bide sold 3000 units of its 'Black Rat' leggings - to just one retailer. That's not even taking into account the other pieces included in that order or other retailers.

Every edition Ragtrader catches up with a previously profiled brand to see how it has evolved in the intervening period. Here Belinda Smart talks to Chris Lambert, general manager of Russell Athletic Australia.

Five days. One hundred designers. Sixty shows. Assia Benmedjdoub dissects the most important trends of Rosemount Australian Fashion Week spring/summer 2008.

Name Leo Faibicher

Putting a positive spin on chronic drought is no mean task for a town whose status hangs on being known as Queensland's 'garden city'. Yet somehow Toowoomba has pulled it off.

<p>NATIONAL: Fashion retail workers could benefit from moves by the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) to update the retail awards system.</p> <p>The peak retail industry body has announced plans to lobby the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (AIRC) to streamline the awards system for retail workers.</p>

<p>MELBOURNE: Designer childrenswear brand Seed is set to expand its retail presence across three regional markets. The Melbourne-based brand, which offers products across apparel, bedding and accessories, has opened new sites in Sydney and Adelaide and announced two additional store openings across Victoria. </p>

<p>MELBOURNE: Marks and Spencer&nbsp;boss Stuart Rose, global fashion journalist-turned-author Diane Pernet and US-based fashion blogger 'The Sartorialist'&nbsp;may soon be winging their way to Australia. </p> <p>The powerful trio head up a wish list of guest speakers being targeted by the organisers of L'Oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) to headline the business seminar program at their 2009 event.</p>

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