Over the last few days we have had a few people asking us how www.fashioncapital.co.uk started as its such a large site...what was the journey and how did we get to being the UKs number l 1 fashion portal?

FashionCapital.co.uk started in 2001 when it was identified by a Government for Office survey that the Fashion Industry was missing a fashion site that would join up the industry - provide a one stop shop of information for anyone connected or interested in fashion.

The original project was set up by 3 business support companies but they realised that they did not have the expertise to continue with the site and needed speciallists.

At the time the staff of Fashion Enter (Vanessa, Hayoleigh and yours truly) were working at the London Fashion Forum and we were asked to run with FashionCapital. We were like people possessed...we loved the challenge of opening such a site with an extensive remit.

In 2006 the LFF had its funding stopped (we had had 6 good years after all) and then the staff of LFF combined to start Fashion Enter Ltd. We then took over www.fashioncaptial.co.uk from the then funders (the London Devlopment Agency) and away we went.

FashionCapital is huge...many people don't realsie how impressive the content is either. I worked in retail with giants such as M&S for over 10years and all the systems and paperwork that I gained during this time is now on the site under Tools of the Trade. Here you can downlaod Confidentiallity Agreements, Invoice with legal terms and conditions and even a 99 page Llicence Agreement too all drawn up by solicitors.' YOu can put on your own logos and trading addresses and use these doucments to help you business. However you have to pay for this servcie which includes the mentoring, over 20 business support specialsits and a free ecommerce boutqiue too.

We are not funded by Government at all except for a few proejcts such as the free CAD CAM coursre in pattern making set up by City Fringe Partnership. Hence we have to charge membership which is just £150 plus VAT for all our resrouces (factory at Haringey, showroom in Kingston from where we sell your collection to asos.com and Topshop etc).

The staff at Fashion Enter Ltd (owners of www.fashioncapital.co.uk and the boutiques) are brilliant. You have no idea how hard they work and why...because that's the way they are. They genuinely care!

We live once in this world and we all have dreams and aspirations. If you have always wanted your fashion business then its time to do something about it. We at Fashion Enter Ltd and www.fashioncapital.co.uk can help you ever step ofthe way.

Regards

Jenny Holloway
Director