SYDNEY: Retail property giant Westfield has enlisted the services of London-based consultant and trend forecasting powerhouse Yasmin Sewell for a multi-platform brand campaign.

It is an issue which has long plagued the fashion sector but with fiscal pressures continuing to mount on the Retail front, suppliers claim the rate of non-paying buyers is currently worse than ever. Assia Benmedjdoub publishes the response to a blog series which ignited unprecedented responses from the industry.

Womenswear label Metalicus unveiled its first new-look store today, with another eight stores scheduled to open over the next 12 months.

Blue Illusion founders Donna and Danny Guest are setting the foundations for another retail chain, opening “the first of a number” of lingerie stores.

NATIONAL: Businesses with plans to develop or upgrade their website capabilities, including e-commerce systems, were among the big winners in the latest round of industry grants.

With price pressures mounting across the back and front end of local retail, Assia Benmedjdoub asks key suppliers and think tanks if competitivepricing has been used to address the tough trading conditions.

SYDNEY: Australian designer Alex Perry has teamed with Project Runway sponsor Electrolux to launch a scholarship program encouraging budding fashion talent in Australia.

The hike in the price of natural commodities like cotton has certainly impacted on Australian textile wholesalers, but as Erin O'Loughlin discovers, it's not all bad news.

NATIONAL: Clothing giants Target Australia and Pacific Brands have found themselves mired in legal action after former female managers from both businesses took issue with their respective employment termination.

MELBOURNE: UK womenswear label Lipsy will launch in Australia next month via an exclusive partnership with department store Myer.

In this edited extract from Shaping Sustainable Fashion, Marie O'Mahony looks at recent developments in sustainable fabrics.

NATIONAL: The plight of trade suppliers to collapsed fashion empire Colorado Group has been revealed, with 537 unsecured creditors owed approximately $28 million.

As shoppers continue their march online, Lisa Egan looks at how new rules are changing the game for existing brands on the web.

Toorallie will mark its twentieth year in business with the launch of its first spring/summer collection.

Major Australian fashion retailers claim unfair labour laws, inconsistent trading hours and a lack of import protection have rendered them uncompetitive on a global scale.

Swiss testing and certification enterprise Testex has doubled its efforts to increase awareness around a new safety certification for the textile industry in Australia which protects against carcinogens or dangerous heavy metals in clothing.