The long-disputed wage structure across garment factories in Bangladesh has at last received some positive news.

After months of protests, many of them ending in violence, the Bangladesh wage board has announced that the minimum wage for garment workers will be almost doubled.

Under the terms of the new arrangement, the average monthly wage will rise from 1,662 taka (£16) to be set at 3,000 taka (£16). A formal announcement of the wage increase will be made by the labour ministry tomorrow. Despite the increase, the wage limit falls short of the 5,000 taka called for by workers.

Leading UK retailers such as Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Zara, Carrefour and H&M all source their clothes from Bangladeshi factories, where the garment industry is the financial backbone of the country’s economy. The industry accounts for some 80 per cent of the nation’s exports and generates around USD$12 billion per year.

Earlier this year, many western fashion labels pressured the Bangladeshi government into reviewing the minimum wage structure after allegations that the country’s factories were using exploitative labour. As a result, the wage board convened an emergency committee made up of union leaders, garment manufacturers and government officials to address the crisis.

The conflict saw angry workers clash with local police in recent weeks and it is not yet clear if union leaders will agree to the new government offer, which, despite the increase, still leaves the garment industry in Bangladesh as one of the world’s lowest paying.

Leading UK retailer Debenhams has revealed the most unlikely of fashion superstars.

Spearheading the new clothing line to hit the high streets is the famous British walker Alfred Wainwright.

Wainwright is more commonly known for his walking guides to the Lake District, along with a reputation for foul moods to suit the foul weather. He is renowned as a notoriously bad dresser, which in some part could explain the new wave of counter-chic. Over the past two years, his fame has increased markedly thanks to a host of radio and television programmes about his life.

The public exposure has cascaded down from the cliffs to the high street in that time, with demand for walking boots, rucksacks and all-weather, hiking-style clothing soaring, leading Debenhams Director for Menswear Buying, Paul Baldwin, to call the new trend ‘Wainwright Chic’. Baldwin claims that both women and men across Britain have taken to the rugged outdoors look, and that the hill climbing image usually reserved for the most extreme of weekends has now found a place in everyday wear. In the past, specialist clothes such as Wainwright’s defining look were the preserve of nature enthusiasts and train-spotters only, but Baldwin says they are now just as likely to appear on the streets of Chelsea and Kensignton as Scafell or Grisedale Pike.

The Wainwright look usually involves a woollen jumper, belted coat and aged flapped-ear cap. These are most often complemented by trousers that use braces rather than a belt for support and which are tucked in to thick woollen socks. The choice of footwear is traditionally unstylish but highly functional.

Overweight children are being tailored to, literally, by leading retailer Marks & Spencer.

Marks and Spencer has launched a new range of over-sized school uniforms for children that are aged as young as four. The decision comes after studies reveal that one out of every five British schoolchildren is clinically overweight when they begin their schooling.

In the new M&S Plus school wear range, items include clothing designed for pre-school children who have waistlines of anywhere up to 23 inches – which is the size more usually found on the average eight year old. Marks and Spencer has said that the trial range of clothing followed demand for bigger sizes from parents, while industry experts said that the decision simply reflected the growing rate of obesity among younger children.

According to the National Obesity Forum’s Tam Fry, the move was commercial recognition of what the public and parents had been aware of for years, namely, that obesity levels in pre-schoolers is on the rise. Fry added that of all new entrants to primary schools across Britain, 27 per cent were obese or overweight.

The Plus school wear collection hit the shelves last week, and targets the 3 – 16 age bracket, with waistlines in both boys pants and girls skirts ranging up to 41 inches. A spokesperson for M&S said that they wanted to ensure that their school wear range was accessible to all shapes and sizes of pupil.

Oh dear. In a real fashion catastrophe, three of the most popular style magazines on the planet have somehow contrived to feature the same dress on their latest covers.

Prada will no doubt be delighted, with their dress appearing on the front page of Vogue, Elle and W all at the same time, but industry analysts are wondering how such a faux pas could have happened in a business which employs teams of people to make sure that this precise incident is avoided. In what is the industry equivalent of three supermodels turning up to a party in the same outfit, the coincidence is somewhat of an embarrassment to all concerned. Fashion houses such as Prada go to great lengths to ensure that rival photo shoots are not given the same outfit, something which has left the respective magazine editors scrambling to deflect criticism.

While Elle magazine said the situation was not surprising given that the dress was so fabulous, Vogue attempted to point out that the dresses were not the same, saying that they had not even noticed the other covers.

Danish model Freja Beha Erichsen appears on the cover of British Vogue in tangerine version of Prada’s diffusion line Miu Miu, while Lily Allen is featured in a lilac lace version for UK Elle, and Eva Mendes adorns the cover of US glossy W in a yellow number. As if that wasn’t enough, model Mona Johannesson appears in the lilac dress on the cover of Swedish Elle.

Looking for that exotic or erotic accessory to spice up your love life?

The leading specialised retailer in gifts for grown-ups, Ann Summers, is currently offering a massive 75 per cent of selected items in its huge summer sale.

The retail group is renowned for its high quality adult products, with everything from toys to oils, sexy to kinky on sale now. Highly respected in an industry which traditionally sees shady operators and poor quality products, Ann Summers claim they personally test and retest all of their items in what must be a fun job. With discounts on all of the classiest bedroom finery, including teddies, camisoles, suspenders, thongs nightwear, hosiery, briefs and even bondage clothing there is sure to be any number of sale items that will ensure you look and feel your sexiest.

Right now you can find some sultry lingerie deals including 50 per cent off selected bra sets, chic lace corsets reduced down £25 from £55, camisole and brief sets at just £8 and the online featured product – the gorgeous Cami-Suspender set from Florence which is on a steal at just £5, down from the normal £30. Still not satisfied? Spend more than £40 and you can add an intimate ‘bullet’ toy for just £5, or choose from the latest remote-controlled ‘rampant rabbits’. There’s also plenty of titillating items for the guys too, from brief sets to gels and lotions, adult DVD’s to videos. Everything is delivered via registered post in discrete packaging and comes with a money-back guarantee, so start shopping and discover the world or sensual wonders at AnnSummers.com