Well the new BSO (Business Support Organisation) section on the home page has proved to be a big hit! We have had many phone calls from grateful nationwide designers thanking us for providing this information. It’s really great for us to receive this feedback direct from the users and naturally it’s our pleasure! That’s what we are here for at the end of the day – to make your job that little bit easier!
Many thanks for the Midlands based company Bust Free for buying the winning Croydon College designer’s range of t-shirts. Our sister company Fashion Enter organised a “Getting It Right First Time” workshop for Croydon College designers. The objective was for the 6 groups of 6 designers to produce an exclusive range of t-shirts that would then be sold in the Enter boutique in Croydon. So far the top two winning groups, PRY 2F and Champagne are neck and neck with only one garment sales difference between them! By Friday the winner will be announced and Bust Free will be buying the collection to sell on their website.
To read the full run down on these competitions please click here.
So the ethical trading conditions in India have hit the headlines again with workers being paid just 5p per hour. Actually it makes me twitch! What do people really expect? When you visit Primark and they are selling matching lingerie sets (pants and wired bras!) for just £5 do consumers really think that the multiples are drastically reducing their margins? Surely they must realise that it’s the poor workers that are subsidising the prices especially when you compare the UK minimum wage is now over £5.50 an hour? I think the question people need to ask themselves is do they really care enough to boycott such places? Clearly not judging by the clothing trading results of Asda, Primark, and Tesco et al.
There are also huge implications here for our UK based production units too…how on earth can such Cut Make and Trim (CMT) units ever effectively compete? One way is obviously the niche market at top end designer level but actually CMT units want regular weekly production runs so they can plan their production rotas and retain their best machinists. Fortunately the City Fringe Partnership programme is aimed at helping CMT units in London and we are delighted to confirm that Fashion Enter has been working on the LDA funded programme and the have secured a meeting with Caren Downie, Buying Director, and Rachel Proud, Skirts and Boutique Buyer, for Topshop to discuss fast track production for London based manufacturers. The meeting takes place in January so eyeballs crossed on this one. Click here to read article.
Big Hello to Johonna Hill-Duckworth our New York Fashion Agent. We are now sending over a selection of designers that she is interested in promoting in New York. How exciting is this! She is the most amazing woman filled with the zest of life and has one big personality! Great to be working with her.
Also a big hello to our latest agent Francisco Posso who is working in Venezuela to promote our designers in this vibrant country. We have been working along side Francisco since September and we are delighted that excellent progress has been made in negotiations with potential buying houses in Latin America. Francisco will also be setting up a blogg on the FashionCapital site and will be reporting regularly from the heart of the fashion district.
Jenni Sutton is now in South Africa, now doubt having the time of her life, finding the “it” places to go! Jenni starts in earnest promoting the designers in Johannesburg in the New Year so Jenni, from the crew at FashionCapital and Fashion-Enter, “go girl go”!
Finally just a big well done to the Croydon based teenagers of Brighter Futures. We are showcasing a selection of their jewellery in the boutique and a fantastic window display was set up yesterday – a winter wonderland! When I was in the boutique earlier today a solicitor came in a bought three pieces straight out! She loved them.
Ok, time to fly!
Until next week.
Jenny Holloway
