New Zealand's fashion industry is struggling to survive as one of its largest textile suppliers Charles Parsons has shut down its fashion division both in the country and in Australia. This follows the announcement earlier this year that another company, Cooper Watkinson Textiles, was quitting the industry.

Several high-profile local fashion labels have closed down recently - women's label Andrea Moore, menswear brand Meccano and shoe store Minnie Cooper. This shutdown of local suppliers appears to be another symptom, rather than the cause, of the pressures on the fashion industry as local designers relied heavily on the New Zealand-made angle to sell their products. It is likely to degrade the variety and choice for local designers' final products.