NATIONAL: A spate of rate rises and the US credit crunch has failed to deter Australian retailers from seeking rental space, a new report has shown.

<p>SYDNEY: One stand at the upcoming Australian Shoe Fair (ASF) &ndash; scheduled from February 15 to 17 at Sydney Exhibition Centre -- has a mission. </p>

SYDNEY: The Australian intimate apparel market has welcomed a new contender.

<p>BRISBANE: David Jones has claimed its new Queensland store is on par with the best retail department stores in the world.</p>

<p>SYDNEY:&nbsp;Fashion Exposed and co-located preview attendees look set to sample some serious French chic this year.</p>

NATIONAL: Australian womenswear brand Sass &amp; bide has made a triumphant return to New York Fashion Week.

<p>MELBOURNE: Fashion doyenne Jenny Bannister's new Chapel Street store has engendered a scheme to give design novices a helping hand. </p>

<p>NATIONAL: Casualwear brand Geox is set to launch up to 30 concept stores across Australia.</p>

AUCKLAND: A New Zealand designer sprung with $1 million worth of cannabis plants in his warehouse has had his sentencing delayed.

NATIONAL: Discount department store Kmart has upped its fashion stakes.

<p>MELBOURNE: L&rsquo;Or&eacute;al Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) 2008 &ndash; scheduled to unfold from March 2 to 9 -- has been officially unveiled.</p>

NEW ZEALAND: Christchurch-based apparel group Postie Plus (PPGL) is planning to combat an anticipated first half loss of $2.8 million with a new distribution strategy and a review of its Arbuckles chain.

<p>NEW ZEALAND: Auckland-based designer Trelise Cooper's lawyers have learnt the hard way what it means to act for one of New Zealand's most high profile business women.</p>

SYDNEY: Organisers of biannual trade fair Fashion Exposed have dismissed claims that exhibitor numbers for the spring/summer 2008 edition have fallen from previous seasons.

<p>SYDNEY: MIE Distribution looks set to perform some fancy footwork at the upcoming Australian Shoe Fair (ASF).</p>

<p>SYDNEY: IMG Asia Pacific has announced the time line for the upcoming Sydney instalment of Australian Fashion Week.</p>