Australia news and archive

Why Merino wool is in demand now more than ever

The global wool industry is experiencing its strongest rally in decades, with Merino wool once again at the centre of fashion and performance innovation. In Australia, the world’s leading producer, the Eastern Market Indicator (EMI), the sector’s key benchmark, climbed 109 cents in recent weeks to reach 1,453 cents per kilogram, marking the...

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Australian brand Outcast announces UK expansion

Australian womenswear brand Outcast is expanding to the UK with a dedicated local distribution hub and website as it looks to “better serve its growing regional customer base,” as part of wider plans to accelerate its international expansion. Founded in 2015, Outcast has become a hit in Australia and around the world for its “bold, confident and...

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Birkenstock to acquire Australian distributor

German footwear provider Birkenstock is set to take direct control of its distribution in Australia. On Wednesday, the publicly listed parent company, Birkenstock Holding Plc, announced it will acquire the distribution company Birkenstock Australia Pty. Ltd. through its subsidiary, Birkenstock International Asia GmbH. A corresponding binding...

Fashion

Rebecca Vallance to redesign Qantas airline uniforms

Australian airline Qantas has selected Australian fashion designer Rebecca Vallance to create its new uniform, following a competitive pitch process. The move will mark the airline's first major uniform overhaul in more than a decade, with Vallance’s new uniform set to launch in 2027, replacing the current design by Martin Grant, which was...

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NGOs crack down on alleged human rights violations within Australia’s fashion industry

Organisations in Australia are cracking down on local fashion brands suspected of carrying out systemic labour rights violations. A new report by Oxfam Australia, backed by the Human Rights Law Centre, has outlined evidence of exploitation and child labour specifically across Bangladesh’s garment supply chain, with potential links to Australian...

Retail

Seafolly to open debut US flagship store in Corona Del Mar, California

Australian swimwear brand Seafolly is set to open its first-ever flagship store in the United States as part of its retail expansion. Slated to open on August 7 in Corona Del Mar, California, the opening comes as Seafolly continues to invest in strengthening its brick-and-mortar footprint. Located at 932 Avocado Avenue, the brand selected this...

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Marks & Spencer enters Australia through David Jones partnership

British retailer Marks & Spencer has debuted in Australia via a new partnership with local department store David Jones. The exclusive deal will initially see Marks & Spencer’s core lingerie and sleepwear range, including T-shirt bras, lace styles, shapewear and thermals, introduced to David Jones stores and its online website from July 14. The...

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Australian organisations team up to develop country’s first National Manufacturing Strategy

The Australian Fashion Council (AFC) and clothing manufacturing company R.M. Williams have established a new partnership to develop what would be Australia’s first-ever National Manufacturing Strategy. The duo intend to mobilise efforts to “rebuild and future-proof” the local fashion and textile industry in the pursuit of building up a globally...

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Frasers Group to launch Sports Direct in ANZ region with Accent Group

Frasers Group has secured a 25-year strategic retail agreement with Accent Group that will see its sportswear retailer, Sports Direct, launch across Australia and New Zealand. The company said it is planning to open 100 stores in the region, with further opportunities among other retail and business segments to be potentially explored in the...

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Rag & Bone launches Australian e-commerce site as expansion continues

New York brand Rag & Bone has launched a dedicated Australian e-commerce platform with its licensing partner Signal Brands Australia as it continues expanding in the region. The site comes as a response to “growing international demand” in Australia, where Rag & Bone had first debuted in December 2024 via a flagship store in Sydney. Akin to the...

Culture|In Pictures

Martin Grant retrospective exhibition opens in Australia

Paris-based Australian-born fashion designer Martin Grant is being celebrated with his first major career retrospective exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Melbourne, Australia. The ‘Martin Grant’ exhibition runs until January 26, 2026, and features close to 100 works drawn from the NGV collection, alongside more than 40 loans...

Fashion |In Pictures

India Hicks launches swimwear collection with Sea Level Australia

British designer and former model India Hicks has unveiled a swimwear collaboration with Sea Level Australia designed to empower “women of all ages”. The 20-piece India Hicks x Sea Level swimwear collection takes inspiration from the iconic allure of the classic Bond girl and features a monochrome palette of black and white, accented with subtle...