Global Surfin’ Safari: Quiksilver Rides Wave In Europe and Far East

North America’s largest malls ranked by gross leasable area.

GROUP INITIATIVE: Clothing and textile manufacturing organizations Sistema Moda Italia and Associazione Tessile Italiana said they are merging. The new entity has yet to be officially named, but will be operative as of Oct. 1. Paolo…

Quiksilver has taken Europe by storm and plans to open stores as far afield as Eastern Europe, Poland and China.

For Veronica Kay, the wildest stop so far on the endless summer voyage aboard an Indies trader ship was in Papua, New Guinea.

Nike Inc. has introduced Jordan, a women’s lifestyle clothing line, that will arrive in stores in October.

NEW EVERLAST EXEC: Susan Fields has been named general manager of the Everlast women’s division at Jacques Moret. Fields was most recently president of midtier and off-price at Nine West Accessories and Victoria & Co.,…

Preliminary bids for the Northern Department Store Group of Saks Inc. are due by the end of this week.

Bear Stearns Merchant Banking has acquired a minority stake in Stuart Weitzman Holdings LLC.

DONATELLA’S FRONTMAN: Donatella Versace didn’t need to invite any of her rock-star friends to play at her daughter Allegra Beck‘s 19th birthday party when there was already talent in the family. Her…

Nick Nolte unfiltered.

Centrico, the latest eatery from Drew Nieporent and Aaron Sanchez.

Samantha Boardman and Aby Rosen were married Tuesday evening on the rooftop terrace of Rosen’s Upper East Side town house. The bride and groom both wore white — Boardman’s simple dress was made for her by…

During the men’s wear shows in Milan this week, the company introduced actress Asia Argento as the new face of its fall and winter 2005 ad campaign.

Caribbean Joe is getting a touch of blue.

Parasuco Jeans is gearing up to take on the Big Apple.

Men’s wear exhibition Pitti Uomo this month heralded denim in all its variations, shapes and treatments as one of the most practical, versatile and innovative fabrics in history, and deemed it basically immortal.

Roberto Cavalli has been tapped by Playboy Enterprises to design new bunny costumes.

BLENDED FAMILY: Meredith’s deal to purchase all of Gruner + Jahr USA’s women’s titles — Family Circle, Parents, Child, Fitness and Ser Padres — doesn’t officially close until Friday, but the two companies already have…

The Senate Finance Committee voted Wednesday to send CAFTA to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation.

Barry Bates is joining the L.E.I. junior division of Jones Apparel Group as president.

The 63-year-old Gurtler is retiring.

Italian manufacturer Gibo Co. SpA has taken a 60 percent stake in footwear producer Iris for an undisclosed sum.