Melbourne-based label Kookai will relaunch its swimwear line and introduce an exclusive range of branded sunglasses in a bid to boost its summer product offering.

Situated at the heart of the Sunshine Coast, the township of Mooloolaba draws crowds as a tourist hot spot. Tim Hamilton, principal of Pandanus Property Solutions, takes a look at trade in the area.

Ragtrader.com.au brought you exclusive coverage on the Collapse of iconic denim brand Bettina Liano. Here, Assia Benmedjdoub offers more detail on the impact it had on trade creditors and their millions in claims.

Does the local apparel market offer good prospects for new foreign entrants? Despite evidence that onshore manufacturing is on the demise and the likes of zara are doing well, apparel analyst Zaena Miller argues it’s a tough market to crack.

NATIONAL: Kmart has nearly tripled its design team and switched to a direct sourcing model in a bid to mirror the success of fast fashion giant H&M.

Bernie Brookes has revolutionised myer since joining the department store in 2006. Daniela Aroche examines his legacy as the myer board prepares to meet at the end of his contract.

MELBOURNE: Event organiser Australian Exhibitions & Conferences (AEC) has enlisted a string of industry experts to boost the offering at high-end trade fair Premiere, ahead of its Melbourne debut this month.

Just Group has joined domestic fashion retailers in driving the search for new manufacturing destinations, as price pressures in China continue to challenge the sector.

Major Australian fashion retailers have been impacted by the latest closure in the Austexx shopping network. Ragtrader takes a snapshot of which labels have been roped into the saga and what it means for local retail developers.

SYDNEY: Westfield has inked a tentative one-year agreement as major sponsor for Vogue Fashion’s Night Out, a shopping activation which has grown from 400 retailers to 600 since its domestic launch last year.

Online catwalk set for boom timeMyCatwalk.com’s recent venture into members-only shopping could be the first of many expansion strategies, after investment firm AR Management entered a shareholders’ agreement to acquire 50 per cent of the business.

MELBOURNE: Jeanswest has appointed a merchandise director with over three decades of experience across retail giants Acardia Group, ASDA/Wal-Mart, Shop Direct Group and Target Australia.

NATIONAL: Escada Australia has escaped relatively unscathed from a Fair Work Australia hearing instigated by a former employee seeking remedy for his redundancy.

At the Cebit Retail Conference in May, ex-Google employee and co-founder of Shoes of Prey, Mike Knapp, revealed how new technologies can aid fashion businesses.

As the new financial year kicks into full gear, the Australian Centre For Retail Studies analyses its predecessor in the 2010 Australian Retail Snapshot. so how did the field of fashion fair?

NATIONAL: New Zealand-based swimwear label Moontide has invested in a local PR presence and a fresh advertising campaign to boost brand awareness in Australia, following a 10-year hiatus.