With over 50,000 unique users fashioncapital really is flying. It’s amazing to think that the site has only been relauched a year ago this month – without any advertising budget I hasten to add. The growth has been achieved by providing original information by quality journalists and researchers. A special mention here to Jo Iles our senior reporter, Jo Carey, Kyrsty Hazel and also Rachel Costa. We have managed to hit those buttons and the growth of the site has been achieved purely by word of mouth. The power of the portal continues!! 

We are currently in discussions with our funders, the London Development Agency; to secure additional on-going funding to provide a promotional budget in particular we are almost at the point of beginning to externally advertise the www.fcboutique.co.uk as we now have over 50 designers on the site. I would like to give a warm welcome to the new designers on the site Global Guru, Hunki Dori and Yeti Threads.

There is no stopping the trend section now……we are rolling! The Key Trend Summary section has again hit the hot spot and we are recording the highest hit rates here. This section provides an overview at a glance of the main mood, colour, silhouette and fabric trends kindly provided by Caroline Shaw. Vanessa Camelia has worked her usual magic on the illustrations and the silhouettes which look absolutely fabulous…..darrrrlling!  Great news the fabric section (on Trends) is now live and whilst there is only five on display more will be added by Caroline Shaw within the next few weeks.  Caroline has been sourcing fabric swatches from fabric agents and mills and soon a comprehensive library will be developed.  We are such a helpful bunch at the LFF!

The LFF magazine is due out at the end of April and a review of the key trends will be featured on a special two page report. To find out more information to join the LFF please click here http://www.londonfashionforum.com/Why_join_the_LFF_210104.html Anna Wellman has worked her cotton socks off on this bumper issue and it’s the best yet! 

We have various discussions in the pipeline with a host of potential new partners including Clothes Show Live, Doneger in New York, a fashion show in Windsor and more besides. As the projects become clearly defined we will go live and start “spreading the news” …. queue Frankie!      

So this is it…..this Sunday is Marathon day. My knee caps are jumping at the mere thought! Some people have asked me what has possessed me to even contemplate running 26 miles…..26 miles I can hardly write the figure! I wish I could say something clever and witty here but alas no. I have never had a burning ambition to run the marathon and I don’t even jog regularly but when my father died last year I did had an overwhelming urge to do something good for others…..does this sound corny….?But true. Running for Whizz Kidz to provide mobility for disabled children and St Mary’s Hospice where my father passed away gave me the motivation however I will ceremonially burn my trainers next Monday with the words of never again ringing merrily in my ears!

Good luck to Jenny Thomas from the DTI on Sunday who is running for the Samaritans. Jenny is a talented runner and has provided me with many pearls of wisdom over the last few months. Needless to say I won’t be seeing her on the day!