NYCEDC Announces Nearly 40% Increase in Number Of MiNY: Fashion Designated Designers
Watch a special video welcoming new MiNY: Fashion designated fashion designers
NEW YORK, NY—New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) today announced its latest roster of fashion designers to become designated under the MiNY: FAshion program. The announcement coincides with the start of New York Fashion Week, which includes several shows by newly Made in NY: Fashion designated designers like Sally LaPointe, Zero + Maria Cornejo and more.
In 2015, Mayor de Blasio launched MiNY: Fashion with a $15 million investment to support local designers and fashion production. The initiative supports emerging designers and brands, galvanizes the fashion design and manufacturing community, and cultivates a pipeline of industry talent. Building on that investment, the de Blasio Administration invested over $100 million to strengthen NYC’s fashion industry by promoting Made in NY designers and developing new, affordable workspace for local fashion manufacturers, including the creation of New York City’s first Made in NY Manufacturing Campus at Bush Terminal in Sunset Park, Brooklyn.
In collaboration with fashion industry leaders, Made in NY: Fashion is responsible for creating, developing, and implementing an array of specific programs to fortify fashion’s design, manufacturing, and educational sectors. The MiNY: Fashion designation grants use of the distinguished “Made in NY” mark for qualifying businesses, which boosts awareness of support for local manufacturing, job creation and purchasing of clothing designed or produced in the five boroughs. As of January 2018, there are 46 MiNY: Fashion designated designers that manufacture 75 percent of their production in New York City.
A full list of MiNY: Fashion designated fashion designers can be found on the Made in NY: Fashion website, a one-stop-shop for information on attaining designation, funding, and resources to support their brands.
“New York City’s iconic fashion industry is a big driver of our economy and is powered by its creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Initiatives like Made in NY: Fashion makes sure the world knows that our talented designers, iconic brand power, and market proximity are an unparalleled combination,” said Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen.
“New York City’s fashion industry is responsible for more nearly 182,000 jobs. That’s why we’re working hard to support fashion designers and manufacturers through key initiatives like Made in NY: Fashion and the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative to help grow good jobs in this key industry,” said NYCEDC President and CEO James Patchett.
The New York City’s $98 billion fashion industry is one of the main drivers of the city’s economy with over 900 fashion companies headquartered in the metro area that employ more than 182,000 people (5% of the City’s workforce). The industry generates over $11B in wages and nearly $2B in city tax revenue annually. Fashion production represents over 30% of manufacturing jobs in the five boroughs, making New York City the second largest hub of garment manufacturing in the country. New York City is also home to the world’s top fashion design schools such as the Fashion Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design, Pratt Institute, and LIM College.
In addition to the MiNY: Fashion program, the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative (FMI) was launched in 2013 in partnership with The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and their Founding Partner Andrew Rosen. It was created to nurture, elevate, and preserve garment production in New York City, ultimately providing a way to connect fashion designers with local manufacturing. The FMI program includes the FMI Grant Program, workforce development, the NYC Production Resources Database, and professional development & Made in NY collaborations.
NYFW is a two week-long series of events that take place throughout the city where fashion designers showcase their collections. The semi-annual event generates almost $1B in tourism revenue for the New York City metro area. For more information on Fashion Week events taking place throughout the city, click here.
About NYCEDC
New York City Economic Development Corporation creates shared prosperity across New York City’s five boroughs by strengthening neighborhoods and creating good jobs. NYCEDC works with and for communities to provide them with the resources they need to thrive, and we invest in projects that increase sustainability, support job growth, develop talent, and spark innovation to strengthen the City’s competitive advantage. To learn more about our work and initiatives, please visit us on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.