Myer dumps Aussie fashion designer

HIS designs have just featured at London Fashion Week but high-flying designer Josh Goot has been dropped by Myer.
The 28-year-old Sydney stylist learned yesterday that his two-year run as one of the designer names at the department store was over.


It's understood that Goot's refusal to budge on the price of his clothes, which include a $900 pricetag on cotton and wool jersey dresses, wasn't well received. Myer had backed the hip young Goot heavily after putting him on as one of their designer names.

Department store face Jennifer Hawkins was often featured wearing his label both on and off the catwalk. However, sources said that even when Hawkins was shown in a Goot dress in Myer's 2008 campaign, the label failed to sell well. "Four of the dresses were bought and two of those were returned," said one insider. Yesterday Myer said the designer and department store had parted on good terms.

"Josh Goot is such a talented designer and a great friend of Myer" said Myer director of apparel Judy Coomber. "However, both of us are heading in different directions in 2009." The store did admit that price was an issue in the decision.

"It's increasingly important in a tough economic climate to offer the right product at the right price," Coomber said. Goot, who received the news in London, admitted that price had been a contentious issue. "I was probably pushing into a price bracket that the Myer customer was not comfortable with," Goot said yesterday.

"When conversations came up about prices (with the store) I said that this is the price for the quality of the product. And the quality of the product is something that I want to hold on to."

We wish him the best, and will keep you posted on his success.

CJ Henderson Azani Fashion