Fashion fear unravels the commercial register

      WA designer Aurelio Costarella slammed society's obsession with cheap clothes, disposable, designers say "destroy" trying to keep up with fast-paced industry.

To comment on the recent closure of the great Australian label Lisa Ho and Kirrily Johnston, Costarella said he feared more Australian brands bankruptcy as they struggle with huge capital and declining margins.

"This is not a healthy environment," he said. "Keeping up with the fast pace of fashion does not mean that you just delivered product to delete and get the collection for the next season are out.

"It's a vicious circle, and there must be a change in how we used to be as an industry."

Costarella, which this year celebrated three decades in fashion, online shopping, the high Australian dollar and cheaper high street brands had created a difficult environment for Australian designers and retailers.

"We destroy ourselves trying to keep this constant cycle of fashion," he said.

"The focus should be back on investing in quality parts. Went beyond.

"If people do not support Australian designers we will see more of Lisa Ho and Kirrily Johnston's go under."

Costarella said he was happy because his customers were loyal and continued to luxury to seek durable parts.

But now he had to make was the most international and foreign markets.

Administrator Lisa Ho said last week that businesses were liquidated, two months after the voluntary surrender.

Director Todd Gammel, HLB Mann Judd, said it was in talks with several other retailers and designers who were on the verge of closing.

This month Kirrily Johnston said: "The questions of the global financial crisis" and "manufacture happiness" after putting the company into bankruptcy were.

They also cited the high Australian dollar, the high street rents, the cost of local production and online sales as factors.

"The shops that sell our collection drop like flies on a weekly basis," Johnston said.

Ruth Tarvydas that his shop King Street because of debts of $ 1 million in Claremont reopened to "rebuild" closed.

"The fear of the economy is the main problem that people spend a lot less money," she said.

The store Passchendales milliner Tania Tehan in Carillon City was among those close recently.

"There must be a change in how we used to be as an industry." Aurelio Costarella