Hello Theresa,

You have come to the right place. FashionCapital.co.uk has a Manufacturer's Online Showroom dedicated to help designers find the perfect manufacturer to best suits your requirements. This is located within the Business section on the left hand navigation. We also offer one to one mentoring with Director Jennifer Holloway and many more, if you wish to discuss how we can help you further please do not hesitate to call either the head office on 020 8462 9620 or the Croydon Boutique on 020 8681 5014.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind Regards

Emily

Thank you for your advice Jenny! I am going to become a member of fashion capital to use the web site to its full potential. I tried writing to fashioncapital with a question on trend info in members area but I didn't get a reply... Maybe you could answer the question ?

I'd like to see the trend forecasting area and would become a member for that reason. One thing i need to know is when the trend reports are published. For example, what date were the SS09 trends published on the website and made available to members?


Thank you,

Anastasia

Hi Anistasia

It is not imossible but it is imperative to receive the right advice at this stageo of your business.

Fashion Enter Ltd is the sister company of www.fashioncapital and it was set up to help people just like you. Websites are great for communication purposes and giving an overview of information but it will never replace the "real" thing of providing a sales venue (we have two boutques and a third on the way in October at Kingston), one to one business advice sessions and we hold events such as our "profile" fashion show which is going to New York in September....not too late to apply!

There are definitely companies of a CMT level that will make your garments for you. Are you _base_d in London? There are companies such as CCS Ltd, Park Lane _style_s, Julie Anna Designs - all of these are reputable companies that will make 1st fit and seals leading on to final production to a high standard. The prices really depend on the work content of each garment so you would need to go and see each unit with your samples.

If you go on to our Manufacturers online showroom you will see all these companies listed on this section of the site plus you will be able to review the types of production they can supply. Contact the ones you like first by phone or email and then arrange to see them.

Many of our members make an arrangement to see us first and have a full product review. We have a large number of desginers who stock the boutiques by making their own production so they can determine which are the best selling _style_s and then go on to sell to other independents or high street retailers - have you thought about adopting that strategy?

The sales in the boutiques are at retail prices and we take out a commission on sales made. If you want to know more about this then contact hayleigh@fasihon-enter.com.

We also realise that people have to know who you are too so we have a PR Dispensary Service to help you out - click on the last newsletter and you can read how we got one childrenswear designer into a leading trade journal. Click News then newsletter. To find out more about this contact jenni@fashion-enter.com

Best of luck - its a hard road to follow but a rewarding one.

Jenny Holloway

The best advice i can give is to do as much as humanly possible yourself.

And if you can, learn some new skills such as machining to keep in line with keeping everything 'in house'.

You really need to keep your costs at a minimum and try to reduce the risk of having your designs copied.

We keep everything in house now after some copying issues with the chinese manufacturers we were using..


Fifi Bloom

Hello,

I am in a very similar position to Teresa. I would love my collection to be made in England but it just seems impossible... With the prices I have been quoted by manufacturers so far, my retail price for a simple dress would have to be £300...

It just looks like I might have to do it myself the first season (I have the skills), but it is not a solution really, as there will be so much more to take care of as the company grows... I would like to find a manufacturer I could build a relationship with, someone I could work with season after season.

Can someone please tell me what I should expect to pay when having garments manufactured in UK?

Thank you

Anastasia

Hi Teresa,

Fashion Capital host a manufacturers online showroom with over 80 manufacturers present. If you click on the "Showroom" tile on the right hand side of the webpage this will take you through.

Also Fashion Enter has two Boutiques you may be able to stock in. You can email images of your work to the Manager on hayleigh@fashion-enter.com and/or call her on 020 8681 5014.

You can also advertise yourself for free on Fashion Capital in the profiles section, if you send some images of yourself and your work with some bio to jojo@fashioncapital.co.uk.

Kind Regards

Emily