MELBOURNE: Quoc Lou admits to finding inspiration in unusual places.

I've always taken the adage that no publicity is bad publicity to mean that even embarrassing mishaps can be gold dust when it comes to the dark art of public relations.

MELBOURNE: Pacific Apparel Solutions (PAS) is again flexing its acquisition muscles.

An increasing number of Australian brands are opting to highlight the fact a garment has been created on-shore.

Are swing tags a forgotten source of branding? Samantha Docherty asks what opportunities labels are missing out on by not making them more of a feature?

Regional Australia can be a pretty baron landscape for fashionistas, with retail outlets few and far between. But for those in Ballarat things are finally looking up, writes Nina Lees.

Having been a sharp shooter in the game of fashion photography for nearly 30 years, Robert Rosen believes he's learnt a thing or two about taking "If the models are getting dressed you have to be really careful not to get boobs and [bottoms] - you have to aim to get them when they are fully dressed."

Helen Esdaile

The transformation of national shopping centre chain Westfield from run-of-the-mill suburban shopping mall to one-stop fashion destination is nearing completion.

Vanessa Rowed doesn't believe in the old saying "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas."

Busy Park AUCKLAND: An extra 1000 car spaces have been made available for the opening of 50 further stores at the Sylvia Park shopping complex in New Zealand.

SYDNEY: Australian jewellery brand Venerari took both first and runner up position in Opal Design at the JAA 2006 Jewellery Design Awards.

SYDNEY: Up-and-coming designer Chloe Elizabeth believes in doing things the old-fashioned way.

MELBOURNE: Recent weeks have seen a rash of companies boldly stepping in to defend their brands against erosion by copycat traders or similarly branded entities.

NATIONAL: Country Road is to adopt retail-only model involving the termination of its wholesale relationships and a dramatically expanded retail presence.

MELBOURNE: Danish footwear and fashion label A Pair will gain a toehold in Victoria with the opening of its first store at Melbourne Central shopping centre.