By Guest Writer on Wednesday, November 25th 2009, 08:55

Fashion industry heavy-hitters congregated at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower last week for the annual Drapers/WGSN Fashion Summit.

A panel discussion led by industry experts Leon Bailey-Green, Colin McDowell, Courtney Blackman, Rebekah Roy and Lucy Wood examined the power of the style press.

The panel, chaired by Lauretta Roberts, cited advantages such as the intimate relationship that can be built with the reader, the interactive feedback obtained and the possibility of building a loyal readership base.

It was explained that as the younger generation continues to spend their money, it is important to meet the demands of this demographic for an online presence.

Leon Bailey-Green spoke about the unique way in which a fashion blogger can build their own audience and that this can act as a platform for up and coming young designers who might otherwise not receive press.

As Joseph Velosa revealed, if Matthew Williamson can hold meetings to debate the colour of their Twitter background, it is surely time for every operator in this industry to examine every online tool available to them and recognise the power of the web.

Written by Kristina O’Connor, founder of Store Society (www.storesociety.com)