3:06pm Wednesday 3rd June 2009
By Community Correspondent Kevin Thomas I have recently seen an ad in the local paper of the forthcoming Croydon Fashion Festival.
To my surprise, well dismay, I find that that sponsors including Croydon BID and Croydon Enterprise are advocating this event, although in retrospect to this event they don’t support Retail Business such as Fashion.
So with this in mind I find it precariously amusing to find that they’ve got logos splashed all over the place doing a splendid PR of the event.
What would be beneficial to help those entrepreneurs and young talented up and coming designers would be a focal point in which to measure there progress with, a way of having a true insight into the industry. It’s fine to hold such shows and the like, there is nothing wrong with that, that’s fantastic PR.
But when the day is done and the bravado has died down, the equipment has been put away, what of those designers, what do they do next, who can they talk too? Get advice from? Understand the next steps to be taken in this industry. There is only one organisation that can provide answers to all those questions!
They are a non-profit organisation that is without a doubt the UK’s leading Portal for the Fashion Industry. They are right on our door step and I can bet no one in Croydon have ever heard of them.
They have wide range Networks throughout this country; they are known by all the fashion stores on the high street, TOP Shop, Allders, House of Fraser, Hobbs and online giants ASOS.
They also provide opportunities for fashion graduates, talented designers to showcase their talent at shows such as the Clothes Show 2008 in Birmingham and just recently the much publicised Clothes Show ExCel London and also connections in New York via their other arm Fashion Enter – Profile.
Also they provide model agency facilities, guidance, platform to work from to make them eligible candidate for modelling assignments. Learning – educational vocational and certified courses. This organisation is none other than Fashion Capital.
I can’t understand the archaic manner in which Croydon Council have disregarded this kind of resource literally on their doorstep.
Because of the nature of their business being of a non-profit organisation, they need support as regards to the business premises they require to keep this facility working.
We are going through a financial nightmare at the moment and the last time we had such hard times was from the 80’s. Everyone has had to re-valuate working practices and to cut down on costs. Some businesses have resulted in closures and bankruptcy. We also have had the much publicised MP Expenses scandal.
The point I’m making is that the majority of Croydon Council are doing a fantastic job to revitalise this city. I have my opinion on some methods, but still a good job.
I want this city to lead and not to follow with the existing great ideas that are being suggested. Please could someone give a proverbial kick up someone’s rear posture to encapsulate the services of Fashion Capital by helping them via relief of business rate reduction?
The benefits and advantages of utilizing the help of this organisation are boundless. Give them the support as you have with Croydon BID and Croydon Enterprise.
They get concessionary rates to use business buildings so why can’t Croydon Enterprise.
They will bring in the publicity and the accreditation far more than BID / Enterprise. Bureaucracy is fine, but stupidity needs to be addressed and replaced by common sense.
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