Clothing prices are expected to rise across the board for the first time in five years as suppliers and retailers raise prices after a 17 per cent slump in the Australian dollar.

Suppliers have warned retailers that prices for fashion clothing, underwear and basic apparel will rise significantly in the second half of calendar 2015, as currency hedges roll off and new ­season stock comes into stores.

Analysts said if wholesale prices rose 10 to 15 per cent, retail prices could rise 4 to 6 per cent.

The Australian dollar has fallen 17 per cent against the US dollar since June and 10 per cent over the past 12 months, pushing up the cost of clothing sourced from China, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka,Thailand and Vietnam.

While a fall in tariffs on January 1 and weaker cotton prices have helped to cushion the effect of the dollar's fall, suppliers said price rises are inevitable.