It's been a busy time for the fashion industry with culmination of the Virgin Mobile Cape Town Fashion Week on Saturday, while the Joburg crowd start setting up ramp for the Sanlam SA Fashion Week from 27 - 30 August. For those who couldn't make the CT event, check out Terry Levin's "One night at...", as well as the style galleries. Woolworths is also launching its Spring/Summer collection to the media and other industry players this week - keep tuned for more. Taking a step back from the catwalk, the Ipsos-Markinor/Sunday Times Top Brands survey results are out, with drinks being top-of-mind for local consumers. Another interesting event yesterday, 17 August, saw the launch of the SADC Free Trade Area. Among its goals is the elimination of tariffs and trade barriers among the member countries, which I'm sure is good news to many; however I do have my doubts about the long-term plan of a single currency (scheduled for 2018)... Are we likely to see the local heavy-weights backing the idea, or backing out as Britain did when the rest of Europe integrated the Euro...?

Shan Radcliffe, Retail editor retailnews@bizcommunity.com Photo: Design by Hip Hop