The fashion industry makes a sizeable contribution to the UK economy, particularly in London, where the industry is thriving, despite intense competition from low cost regions.

Successful designers are internationally known and feted, but at the other end of the fashion chain, many of its most vital contributors are relatively invisible. The Cut Make and Trim (CMT) manufacturers, which form the backbone of the industry, are small companies (typically around 25-30 people).

Many of them have been set up by first-generation immigrant families who are not fluent in English and do not possess the resources to promote themselves to designers.

This is where the new online manufacturers’ showroom on www.fashioncapital.co.uk comes in. The showroom has been set up by Jenny Holloway – founder of not-for-profit business support organisation, Fashion Enter Ltd, and its sister company Fashion Capital www.fashioncapital.co.uk – and is jointly funded by the London Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS) and Cutting It – an EU-funded project to support SMEs working in clothing and textiles in East London.

The online manufacturers’ showroom puts information about suppliers in the fashion industry into an easy-to-use online resource. It facilitates contact between all elements of the industry: whether it is the best manufacturer to produce a small run or some high-fashion samples; or a pattern cutter; or a supplier of trimming or buttons.

According to Jenny Holloway, “all the responses we’ve had have been really positive. It is such a simple idea, but it helps all the associated elements of the fashion industry to find each other.”

Designer Anila Dhanak, of Melanka & Me www.melankaandme.co.uk, has found the new online manufacturers showroom “fantastic”. Dhanak faced a real crisis when the supplier she was using closed down… with her fabric and patterns inside.

As a new label, launching into the competitive women’s wear and children’s wear sectors, she simply didn’t have time to do all the legwork necessary to track down the right manufacturer for her 2008 Spring collection.

Thankfully, through the online manufacturers’ showroom, she has found a new manufacturer, CCS.

She found the website easy to use, and was impressed with the availability of thorough research from people who “really know about fashion manufacturing”.

Best of all, she feels, the online facility makes best use of her time, as the information on manufacturers — which includes sample garment pictures — “gives me an idea, straight away, that this is what they can do”.

On the other side of the equation, Anila’s supplier, Nazim Aksu of North London’s Crystal Clear Solvency Ltd (CCS) is “very happy” with the site.

For a small Cut Make and Trim manufacturer, the service has been invaluable. CCS (www.crystalclearsolvency.com) is now getting most of its customers from the manufacturers’ online showroom. New designers have come to him, after looking at his company details and sample garments. “Now lots more people know about me and my company”.

Acording to Nazim, many small manufacturers have one big customer, so if that customer doesn’t place an order, they are in trouble. “But now,” he says, “we are never quiet”. He has also used the online showroom to source specialists, such as pattern cutters, by adding a note to the CCS entry in the showroom.

The online showroom is just part of the support to London clothing manufacturers available through London MAS (http://www.mas-london.co.uk). MAS fashion industry specialists have helped to deliver considerable success to the industry through expert advice on manufacturing processes and business opportunities.

For example, for a recent project with North London company London Schoolwear, one of the country’s leading manufacturers of pleated schoolwear, London MAS used its network of industry contacts to investigate the most effective software and hardware for the mark/nest/cut process, to bring greater automation and efficiency to the business.

MAS helped the client to make an informed assessment on ‘rent or buy’, based on likely return on investment. The client decided to invest in new technology and equipment, resulting in a doubling of capacity and a £2,140 increase in value per employee. Time freed up to concentrate on developing sales meant the company was able to develop new business gains in Ireland and France.

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Notes:

•                  www.fashioncapital.co.uk is the leading UK fashion portal; it began in January 2001, funded by the LDA.

•                  Fashion Enter was established in 2006 as a support organisation for new and emerging fashion designers. Currently has over 1000 members.

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