<p>&nbsp;MELBOURNE: Unisex footwear brand Zu shoes has launched its first online store. </p>

<p>INTERNATIONAL: The French fashion industry has weighed in to the debate about the health of fashion models by introducing the world's first charter on the issue.</p>

NATIONAL: National retailer Nine West has been forced to recall a range of its sunglasses after it was found they failed to meet minimum safety standards.

MELBOURNE: Australian denim doyenne Bettina Liano will officially re-launch her Melbourne flagship store this Thursday.

<p>NATIONAL: A new partnership between shopping comparison website Shopping.com and online retail catalogue hub Catalogue Central promises enhanced choice for web-savvy fashion consumers.</p>

NEW ZEALAND: Increased media attention on its events has prompted the organisers of Air New Zealand Fashion Week (ANZFW) to beef up its public relations team.

MELBOURNE: Science and sport have united to help athletes lift their game.

NATIONAL: Embattled wholesaler Austin Group has closed ranks.

NATIONAL: The signing of New Zealand's historic Free Trade Agreement with China yesterday (April 7)&nbsp;will potentially allow Kiwi woolgrowers to undercut their Australian counterparts.

SYDNEY: Government export body Austrade has teamed with fashion week organiser IMG Fashion to drive overseas attendance at the industry event.

SYDNEY: Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) has unveiled a new competition aimed at fostering the commercial growth of up-and-coming designers from around the world &ndash; but surprisingly, not one finalist hails from Australia.&nbsp;&nbsp;

BRISBANE: Applications have opened for designers to participate in the 2008 Mercedes-Benz Fashion Festival in Brisbane.

MELBOURNE: Underwear and hosiery specialist Ambra has made its first stab at the shapewear market with the launch of the Killer Figure range.<br />

NATIONAL: Collette Dinnigan, Alice McCall and Peter Morrissey are the latest Australian designers to get themselves into a hairy situation.

SYDNEY: Upmarket streetwear retailer Incu is set to dramatically expand its menswear offering.

NATIONAL: Some of the globe's leading visionaries will share their thoughts in an upcoming trends seminar being staged across Sydney and Melbourne later this month.