Shop Small Business Saturday with the FC Designer Collective

With Britain’s lockdown restrictions lifted our shop, ‘FC Designer Collective’ based on Fonthill Road, is open and ready just in time for ‘Small Business Saturday’.

According to research, commissioned by American Express, seven in ten Brits say they will visit local shops and businesses this month, with an average spend of £169, recognising their essential role in our local communities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. As a principal supporter of Small Business Saturday UK (Saturday 5^th December), the General Manager UK, Global Merchant and Network Services at American Express – Dan Edelman said:

“2020 has been hard for everyone but the resilience and creativity of small businesses in the face of the most trying of circumstances continues to be nothing short of incredible. It’s great to see that Brits recognise the important contribution local small businesses make and want to show their support, rewarding them with a much-needed boost to spending before the end of the year.”

Here at FashionCapital we are all about supporting and nurturing new and local creative talent, which is what our shop, the FC Designer Collective, is all about. Pop by and view various collections and products from a wide range of designers alongside fabrics and haberdashery. We also have an on-site alteration and repair service and can offer 1-to-1 stitching tuition.

The lift of lockdown couldn’t come sooner for non-essential shops and small businesses, however retail this week is under a very dark cloud as the news regarding the collapse of Arcadia Group and Debenhams department stores hit the headlines. 25,000 jobs are likely to go as these two retail giants wind-down both businesses and we are all left wondering ‘what went wrong?’ for these long-established high street players.

Fiona Warburton, co-founder, Asmuss Clothing, a small, sustainable womenswear brand, commented: “The advantage that smaller companies have over larger ones, is that we can adapt a lot quicker, as we are still very much in control of our designs and supply chain, meaning we have been able to meet the new demands of our customer, introducing new designs as we go. Many small fashion businesses are also solving major problems caused by the wider industry, with many refusing to, or unable to mass produce, and using better materials, that are better for the environment. I believe that there is a lot more longevity in smaller brands, than high street, though it is a process and education, we are definitely seeing a movement in wanting clothes that do good.”

In these uncertain times it does seem indeed that small is beautiful. Lean production, small and often drops, along with simple-to-use online options are the way forward. At the FC Designer Collective we have the added advantage of offering unique, locally-made products that you won’t find anywhere else! So support small businesses when you Christmas shop this Saturday, it’s a win win for all.

FC Designer Collective, 113-115, Fonthill Road, London N4 3HH.

Shop opening days / hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10:00 – 17:00