Save The Garment Center Rally

To all our lovely readers, specifically those that are in the neighborhood this week, we need your help! This Wednesday, October 21^st at noon there will be a rally to help Save the Garment Center. So please, come and show your support for our neighborhood and meet at the corner of 39^th St and 7^th Ave, aka by the needle and button.

Nanette Lepore has worked with the Save The Garment Center Initiative to host this rally. Hopefully, this event will remind the New York City politicians why the Garment Center is such an integral part of the city. This rally is a bold reminder of fashion’s importance, especially considering the apparel industry is the second largest employer in all of NYC. As Nanette said, “The fashion district is facing extinction, and small factories are being lost to developers. Without it, young designers cannot get their start in New York City…. I don’t think the local government understands how it works. I’ve been trying to get a meeting with Bloomberg for a year…the mayor would rather have Chi-Chi’s and the Olive Garden in the area. I think he wants to ignore us so he can get his agenda passed through, but on October 21st, he’s going to have to pay attention.”

Many smaller designers like Trina Turk, Anna Sui, Erin Fetherston, Reem Acra, and more are participating. However, Nanette is calling out larger brands like Ralph Lauren and Donna Karen to get on board as well. For the fashion industry to remain successful and all our jobs to remain secure, an organized support group such as the Fashion Caucus we mentioned here would be invaluable. Gaining political backing would help sustain the future of the industry, as well as, assist in the efforts to Save the Garment Center.

So please, everyone take an early lunch on Wednesday and stop by the needle and button, at least for a few minutes, and show your support for our industry and our neighborhood. See you there!

For those of you not in NYC, you can help as well by signing the petition to Save the Garment Center here. Also if you missed the HBO movie last night on the Garment District make sure to catch it on demand shortly. Here’s a clip for your viewing pleasure;

Garment Center Support

Thank you to everybody who came to the Save the Garment Center Rally on Wednesday. It was a huge success with over 750 supporters showing up and letting their voices be heard. Among the many supporters were designers Yeohlee Teng, Michael Kors, Elie Tahari, Diane von Furstenberg, and, of course, the event organizer Nanette Lepore. Many people shared moving stories on what the Garment Center has meant to them and their businesses. One key point Nanette made, “If there is one thing that we should have clearly learned this year.…We cannot base New York City’s entire economy on two industries: Wall Street and real estate. Those industries are important — those people wear clothes…But we need a diversified economy in New York City, so when there is a Wall Street setback it doesn’t become a massive problem in our city.”

Mayoral candidate Bill Thompson gave a strong speech, making it clear that unlike his competitor, Mayor Bloomberg, he believes in the Garment Center and the Made in NYC label. He promised, “As mayor, I’ll work with manufacturers, the fashion industry, and labor unions to arrange for up to one million square feet of dedicated garment manufacturing space in nonprofit buildings.” The labor unions showed up as well, with many cutters and sewers from the Workers United group proudly holding their Sew NY signs.

Check out the photos below, some of you may catch a glimpse of yourselves or co-workers, others can see first hand the faces behind your clothing labels. Enjoy, and thanks for your support!

Blackface a Crime of Fashion?

Fashion photographer Steven Klein has done it again. These are some photos from his latest fashion spread in French Vogue. So what do you think; is this offensive or fashion forward?

**For those of you who made it to the Save the Garment Center rally today, thank you and we will have photos up tomorrow!**