On Wednsday October 21 of 2009, the "Save the Garment Center" rally took place right in front of the BIG button on Fashion ave and 39th street. Designers like Nanette Lepore and Micheal Kors showed up to support the cause and spread the word. Statistics show that in the 90's 95% of American clothing was produced on American soil and only 5% was outsourced. Now in 2010 only 5 % of garments are made in the US.
Its extremely important that the garment center in NYC is rivitalized because in many cases it is the only opportunity given to new and upcoming designers to produce an accessible clothing line with little funds and a dream. Having the garment center in the heart of our city is hugely important to many of us because our designs and garments are close by, the trims and fabric stores, the patternmakers, embroiders and overall atmosphere is here!
Many of the sources designers have been using for years are dissapearing because they lack consumers and faithful clientel and landlords have raised rent prices pushing small business out and bringing non- fashion related businesses in.
SCOTT M. STRINGER, BOROUGH PRESIDENT
"For years we've set aside this portion of the West 30's for the garment industry, and in return, they called our city home, and turned New York into the Fashion Capital of the World. Designers and manufacturers bring billions of dollars in revenue and hundreds of thousands of jobs to our city each year - not to mention the impact they have had in shaping the character of this neighborhood. We need a real plan to keep the garment center intact - one that takes into account our garment industry's long-term needs and survival."
