So I went along to the meeting at the Mayor’s office. If you don’t know what this is about see my last news on this.

A Mayor’s representative presented Boris Johnson’s views for the Cultural Strategy for London. I read the whole document before the session, oh dear…I always believe in the positive and see the silver linings, so I figured there had to be more to it than my glances allowed.

I listened. There seemed to be confirmation of what I had read – no exciting sparks, no wildly wonderful suggestion for our cultural futures. Festivals … street parties … classical music … the backing of large organisations and it seems a lot of resting on laurels. Laurels in shape of stats that were illustrating how  diverse and culturally inspiring London is. But sadly… budget cuts will mean money will go to the big boys cutting down the small boys while the mayor insists and praises London’s innovative breeding ground. With all the spending cuts and his allocation of cultural funds to large establishments it leaves me wondering where his praised INNOVATION is going to be bred?

All of us YCE’s (Young Creative Entrepreneurs) seemed to be asking the same question. The answer really was plain and simple. Do it yourself, money will not flow your way to make it happen nor will support from diverse support networks that have been supporting the Creative Industries. It seems a little askew given that its us Creative Businesses which generate a very large proportion of London’s income and provide a very large proportion of jobs. It leaves me wondering if the Mayor, his advisers and planners have missed a HUGE opportunity for the future strategy.

The opportunity for Innovation, Sustainability & real Vision. The opportunity to invest what miniscule budgets they have into sustainable futures & the opportunity to communicate & consult their audiences.

Fru Hazlitt, Head of Commercial and Online Operations at ITV, former RADA graduate, who joins the discussion later, strikes with true vision. She knows a thing or two about culture and most certainly about people. Given that she started at ‘Yahoo’ when it was nothing!! she knows that small businesses are the Innovators and that investments & support needs to be channeled into the growth of those who will build sustainable futures & future opportunities – not simply uphold the status quo.

So I am left wondering if the Mayor would consider dining with some consultant advisers? Us lot – us Young Creative Entrepreneurs – his audience that could help him grow his small funds as they are dwindling. Us lot that could support him with sound ideas and concepts to retain & further the Innovation he seems to be so proud of here in London? Who knows what visions we would create with this view from our office in just one day? See above taken from the top of the Mayor’s office – lovely, eh?

I challenge thee.

Our stitch is what brings it and holds it all together. The stitches the tailors & seamstresses add to our dresses are what makes our bright prints into cute dresses. It is therefore imperative that they have time to feel their hands, keep their eyes peeled and have a laugh from time to time. It can be very tiring work in the sweltering heat. Its the kind of heat that would stop us in our tracks here in the UK, it would be like snow in the winter. It is so hot that your brow wipe is constant and unstoppable, its like a steam room without the cold shower at the end. It makes for a great complexion and constant thirst for freezing cold drinks & sorbet.

Regular power-cuts caused by heavy rains during rainy season and constant works on the national grit bring frequent delays. A new generator has made life so much easier these past few months! Work can continue regardless. We also hear that Godknows, the master of the tailoring business, is very proud of his new electric cutting machine. Apparently he loves it so much that it now takes him one day to cut 50 dresses rather than 3/4days. Can’t wait to see this for myself next time I visit Accra.

We have really stretched his skills & vision with our collections and are pleased he rose to the challenge. A few good tools, the secretary & our team and friends that support us on the ground, have gone a long way in supporting our operation. Its helped us build some exciting commercial relationships with large retailers, such as Topshop and Asos.com, while no doubt it has expanded minds and businesses.

See for yourselves how we add our stitch. Simply click on the pictures….start on the top left.