General Pants defies the received wisdom that being a large chain means being corporate or formulaic. Despite operating over 30 outlets each store manages to retain a unique identity, with fit outs often featuring the work of local artists or fun touches such as a "make your own Havianas" thongs area, a recent stroke of genius launched for summer 2007/08.

2007 has been a huge growth year for menswear retailer Tarocash. Reportedly boasting year-on-year growth of around 15 per cent, the mass-market brand spent the early part of the year opening new stores and the later part consolidating its new ownership structure alongside fellow menswear brands YD and Connor.

Edge Clothing is a consistent innovator that offers a broad mix of around 60 youth labels and has also had the foresight to develop a few of its own.

A glance at the uber-contemporary styling of the current Feathers collection - which includes cool leather blousons, cowl neck tunics, anorak dresses and metallic bolero jackets - makes it hard to believe that this retailer was born in 1972.

Certain retailers in this year's women's independent category - Andiamo, Belinda and Directions - deserve a special mention for their ongoing contribution to the fashion retail scene.

Built around timeless, elegant design and premium European fabrics in neutral tones, Fremantle (WA) based womenswear label Morrison promises what every sophisticated woman looks for in fashion; the building blocks of a wardrobe that will never go out of style.

Gorman clothing is targeted at women with an approach to style that is witty and chic without being dependent on the warp-speed volatility of trends.

The fashion retail industry is not known for its ability to stop and smell the roses. And we consider it our job to do something about it.

In his whistle stop tour of the global and local fashion retail sector Australian Centre for Retail Studies executive director Jeff Rogut argues that despite buoyant consumer demand, retailers must contend with numerous pressures including an increasingly saturated market and demand for fast fashion.

AMP goes online NATIONAL: AMP Capital Shopping Centres have launched a new look website for its Australian and New Zealand operations.

BRISBANE: Australian womenswear designer Bettina Liano has ramped up her national retail presence.

GEELONG: Australian based textile manufacturers and wool producers Landmark, Elders and H Dawson were among a host of domestic and international visitors to complete a wool textile training course in Geelong recently.

SYDNEY: Lionel Ritchie move over - the annual Ragtrader TNT Fashion Retailer of The Year Awards has turned out to be the hottest ticket in town.

MELBOURNE: Licensing specialist Brand Management Australia (BMA) has launched a pre-Christmas promotion to drive sales of the revamped Holden Racing Team (HRT) fashion range.<br />

MELBOURNE: The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) is spreading its wings.

MELBOURNE: The L'oreal Melbourne Fashion Festival (LMFF) has channelled its warm and fuzzy side.