Designer Diary: Melt London – From Russia with Love & The No Can Do UK Trim Suppliers

 

I can reliably report that we are both now infamous amongst Russians chatting online. Since I can’t speak a word of the language, I can only guess what they are saying, but personally I am hoping they have a sense of humour that runs as deeply as their spending power. Particularly those buyers thinking of retailing our Melt London label!

  

Meanwhile back in chilly, grey London, thoughts of summer are long gone and work on next winter’s collection is moving on at great pace.

  

Trims are my current drama. Not just any trim, it must be the perfect trim, and preferably cost the perfect price.

  

It would also be nice to find a British company, who can offer that product and then attempt to deliver it in less than 4+ weeks. Or failing that, please show me something special that might be worth the wait.

  

I was totally shocked this week by the no can do attitude of some UK companies. One man told me to buy buttons from China if I wanted them to cost less than his nothing wonderful and nothing available anyway, dusty offerings.

  

In another London establishment, the staff sat and ate lunch at the only table in their showroom, while I was expected to balance my chosen stock on a rickety pile of open boxes. They smugly watched as I cut and labelled my own samples. Being vaguely aware of my discomfort and wanting to further encourage my custom, they spoke between bites and slurps of office gossip, to bark “make sure you don’t cut a length of more than 1 inch, and put it back when you’re done!”

  

Needless to say the lengths got longer, and the, when you’ve finished you can return it yourself stock, was then gleefully thrown by me into the wrong boxes.

  

Sadly I did like some of their trims, but it’s too great a worry that every cut length will be seeped in their splashed yoghurt and dull, irritable characteristics.

  

Some of these companies were proud to announce that their stock went back 50 years, I can’t help but wonder if that’s because they couldn’t be bothered to sell it then either?

I’m now inclined to believe that the Far East isn’t the real problem for British suppliers, it seems far more likely to be a combination of staff negativity, lack of passion and indigestion. This lethal cocktail must be slowly but surely gnawing its way into the heart of their creaking businesses.

  

Hopefully just being in the same room as these people, whilst creating a mild feeling of nausea, doesn’t cause lasting damage. A lucky escape, as I’m going to need huge reserves of energy and passion in the coming weeks to see our collection reach its fabulous conclusion!

   

By Susan Royston

 

Creative Director of Melt London

 susan@meltlondon.co.uk