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   Some collections opted for volume, such as Mink Mart with its puffy-sleeved shawls and chunky jackets. ‘You’ll see some swing coats, because there’s always a demand for the silhouette,’ Zuki said. ‘But by and large coats and jackets are cut close to the body, with narrower shoulders and higher arm holes.’ The focus on softness and lightweight furs of past seasons continues.
   Over the four days of the show, NAFFEM also attracted some big names from the US. The Newmont group presented 2002 collections of Anne Klein, Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera and Bisang, while Legar showcased Louis Dell-Olio and the CPL Group unveiled new collections by Halston and Cynthia Rowley. From Europe came haute couture from the likes of Gianfranco Ferré and Vito Naci, Claude Montana and Louis Féraud.
   And more women than ever want a luxe coat, according to Mike Campeau of the Graff Retail Group. In his presentation later in the week he called women the ‘powerhouse in today’s market-place.’ He pointed out that they now influence the purchase of 80 per cent of consumer goods, and that with more than 40 per cent of them running households with assets of over $600,000, ‘Women make the buying decisions,’ he said. ‘And fashion is one of the primary qualities women look for in what they buy.’

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Top right: Mink Mart’s chunky jacket. Left column, top row, left: Musi. Top row, right: Nunavut. Centre row, left: Antonio Proietti. Centre row, right: Fantasia. Bottom row, left: Canchilla. Bottom row, right: Paula Lishman.