Even now, when most fashion houses and retailers have begun to recover from the effects of the recession, there appears to be a sector of the fashion industry that is still taking a few hits from the economic downturn - fashion PRs. Despite the future looking brighter for retailing, even PR queen Kelly Cutrone admitted to struggling with her company People's Revolution during the recession, and the story even made a sub-plot in her reality show Kell On Earth.

Unfortunately for Press Office Ltd., the 30th of April saw their company close its doors, despite repping brands such as Karen Walker, Agnes B., Dunderdon and Lover. So why is it that although the labels represented by fashion PRs are finding their feet once more, that the people supporting the companies are feeling the pressure? An industry professional revealed to Fashionista that while business isn't necessarily down, rates are - PRs are working just as hard as before but for half the money, and all because companies are shopping around.

Public relations firms need the money, and therefore clients are happily shopping around as they know they can battle for the best price in town. This might sound all doom and gloom for the people responsible for keeping brands' credibility afloat, but there is some positivity in this tale. Fashion houses might be recovering now, but PR firms are beginning to struggle long after their clients - and with clients regaining business as the recession begins to ease off, marketing budgets are predicted to boom by 2011 - so, fashion PRs, hold in there.