Sales of the Paul Costelloe fashion range are gathering momentum, Silk Industries, the new owners of the Irish designer's United Fashion business, said yesterday in advance of the launch of his autumn/winter collection in menswear, womenswear and soft furnishings, writes Eibhir Mulqueen. But Silk Industries, which acquired United Fashion for £1.25 million last year, has said that results for the six months to August 31st, will be below those of 1997, due in part to the timing of the new season's deliveries.

The public company, which had a £19.6 million turnover with a pre-tax profit of £2.2 million to February 1998, stated that the interim figures, due in October, would reflect the costs but not the revenue from the new ranges.

"The timing of deliveries at the Paul Costelloe business in no way detracts from the underlying strength of that business," However, the company added said that there had been a negative impact on its printed silk industry due to the Asia Crisis