Despite a rocky start to the year, the latest monthly retail trade figures are cause for hope in the fashion sector.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) has reported an 0.7 per cent rise in sales following an 0.5 per cent rise in October 2013.
Year on year growth also increased to 4.6 per cent in the lead up to the Christmas sales period.
The figures are a positive sign sales results for December will be even higher.
Today's figures also included online estimates for the first time, with an 1.8 per cent reported rise.
The Australian Retailers Association estimates overall Australian based annual online retail sales to be at $4.74 billion dollars.
The industry group is pushing the ABS to include online overseas sales to Australia, as well as category breakdowns.
An NAB online survey released yesterday indicated total online sales (overseas and Australian) now represent 6.4 percent of total retail sales.
The ABS retail figures indicated a 1.7 per cent rise in clothing, footwear and personal accessory retailing for the month.
This was the third highest category, after 'other retailing' and cafes, restaurants and takeaway food services.
Sales grew in all states including Victoria (0.9 per cent), Western Australia (1.3 per cent), New South Wales (0.4 per cent), Queensland (0.5 per cent), South Australia (0.9 per cent), the Northern Territory (1.7 per cent) and Tasmania (0.5 per cent).
It has been a rocky start for the fashion sector this year, with Peeptoe appointing administrators this week and iconic brand George Gross and Harry Who bowing out of the sector.