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...

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...

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...

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...

Cotton On to launch kidswear in the UK

Australian fashion and lifestyle retailer Cotton On is building on multi-brand growth in the UK market by launching its kidswear brand, Cotton On Kids, online in the UK this autumn. Cotton On, Australia’s largest fashion brand, has had an online presence in the UK since 2021, offering womenswear, menswear, body and accessories, and due to “...

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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Vivienne Westwood and Rei Kawakubo to be the focus of a new exhibition in Australia

The National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) in Melbourne, Australia, is bringing together British fashion legend Vivienne Westwood and Japanese designer Rei Kawakubo of Comme des Garçons in a new fashion exhibition which will celebrate both designer’s “groundbreaking” work. The exhibition, titled ‘Westwood | Kawakubo,’ will premiere on December 6,...