New York City is doubling down on its status as a global fashion capital with new investment aimed at helping local garment manufacturers navigate growing global pressures, including whipsawing tariffs and equally heady supply chain shifts.
Announced Monday by the New York City Economic Development Corporation and the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the $1.7 million Local Production Fund will dole out credits to up to 21 local garment manufacturers to support the reshoring of production orders for 43 fashion designers over two years and up to three seasons.
Doing so will not only strengthen ties between manufacturers and designers, the organizations said, but also ensure the Big Apple’s historic garment ecosystem can “continue to call New York City home.”
“At the CFDA, we are committed to supporting American designers not just creatively, but in building strong, sustainable businesses, and the Local Production Fund is a critical step in helping them access local manufacturing, build lasting partnerships and grow within New York City,” CFDA president Steven Kolb said in a statement.
Backed by Andrew Rosen, TWP, the American Apparel & Footwear Association and others, the program marks the next chapter of the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative, originally established to help New York City manufacturers modernize equipment and facilities.
From 2013 to 2024, the FMI saw $6.7 million distributed across more than 220 innovation and workforce development grants and programs, advancing the careers of thousands of employees.
The fund arrives just as the Garment District is undergoing a significant transformation. In August, the New York City Council and City Hall adopted the Midtown South Mixed-Use, or MSMX, Plan, to revamp 42 blocks with 9,500 new homes, including 2,800 permanently affordable units.
While the plan isn’t without its detractors, the NYEDC created the Midtown Made brand to protect local designers, manufacturers and creative entrepreneurs as the rezoning takes shape.
Efforts include the NYCIDA Garment District Program, a New York City Industrial Development Agency incentive that lowers costs for property owners leasing to garment manufacturing businesses, and the Greenlight Innovation Fund, which helps nonprofit organizations secure and develop permanent, below-market space in Midtown South for the garment industry and other creative sectors.
“The Fashion Manufacturing Initiative’s decade of impact, supporting over 3,500 New Yorkers, helped strengthen the foundation of New York City’s historic garment manufacturing industry while advancing a diverse local workforce,” NYCEDC interim president and CEO Jeanny Pak said in a statement. “Building on that growth, NYCEDC is proud to continue our partnership with CFDA through the new Local Production Fund, which will deepen collaboration between local designers and manufacturers, helping to drive production and ensure this vital industry continues to thrive in New York City.”
Local Production Fund applications for manufacturers opened on Monday on the CFDA website, with designer applications to follow on June 23.
