NYCEDC, Council of Fashion Designers of America Announce 2024 FMI Grant Fund Recipients

Over $1.1 Million Distributed to 18 NYC Based Fashion Manufacturing Companies

Nearly $7 Million Awarded Across FMI Grants and Workforce Programs in 11 Years Since Launch of Fashion Manufacturing Initiative

NEW YORK, NY—Today, New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) in partnership with the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Inc. (CFDA) announced the 2024 Fashion Manufacturing Initiative (FMI) Grant Fund recipients, continuing the support of the New York City fashion manufacturing sector.

This year marks the 11th anniversary of the FMI, which was created in 2013 to support and preserve New York City fashion manufacturers. Since FMI’s origination, $6.7 million has been invested across all of FMI’s grants and workforce support programming, which has impacted the work of 3,708 employees.

The FMI Grant Fund, the tentpole program under CFDA and NYCEDC’s Fashion Manufacturing Initiative, offers partially matching grants to New York City based contract manufacturing facilities committed to improving their services through innovation and technology. Since the inception of the FMI Grant Fund, the fund has invested over $6.1 million across New York City’s manufacturing network and impacted the work of 2,042 employees.

The 2024 round of grants marks the ninth round of the program, with over $1 million distributed to manufacturers for machinery and software technology, workforce training, capital improvements, and relocation costs.

“The success of the past decade of the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative speaks to NYCEDC's commitment to supporting local fashion manufacturing and promoting inclusive economic growth throughout the city's fashion industry,” said NYCEDC President & CEO Andrew Kimball. “As we continue to reimagine modern manufacturing in New York City, NYCEDC congratulates this year's cohort of talented recipients and looks forward to their continuous contributions to our city's creative innovation industries.”

“As we mark the 11th year of the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative, we are proud of the advances made in New York City fashion manufacturing and the diversity of grant recipients who make the sector a true reflection of New York City,” said Council of Fashion Designers of America CEO Steven Kolb. “We are grateful for the partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) in our efforts to support New York City fashion manufacturing.”

This year’s 18 grant recipients include: Button Down Factory, Carina, Dream Fashion, Emmelle Design, Glory Apparel, Heartland Manufacturing, In Style USA, Knit Resort, Polytime Atelier NYC, Rainbow Leather, Refine Studio, Rosagna Hernandez, Sunrise Studio, The Embroidery House & Son II, theTEN Atelier, Timberlake Studios, TÔMTEX, and Trimworld.

Among the 2024 recipients, 72.2% percent are women-owned businesses; 66.7% percent are minority-owned businesses; and 27.8% percent are first-time recipients of funds through the FMI Grant Fund. Nearly 300 jobs are impacted across this year’s recipient’s businesses through the grants.

Services of the recipients include cutting and sewing, pattern and sample development, knitwear services, embellishment/embroidery, fabric dyeing, printing and washing, marking and grading, as well as material innovation development and production.

Criteria for the recipient selection included qualifiers surrounding sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as community and workforce impact and overarching business viability. All recipients successfully completed both financial audits as well as social compliance audits which covered areas such as health and safety, worker wages and welfare, and more.

“As Chair of the Committee on Economic Development, I am thrilled to celebrate the launch of the 2024 Fashion Manufacturing Initiative and the continued support for New York City’s vibrant fashion manufacturing sector by NYCEDC,” said New York City Council Majority Leader Amanda Farias. “This grant fund plays a crucial role in driving inclusive economic growth, fostering innovation, and ensuring that our city remains a global leader in fashion. By supporting minority- and women-owned businesses and enhancing sustainability and workforce development, we are not only preserving but also advancing the legacy of New York City’s fashion industry.”

“Garment production is critical to New York City’s identity as the fashion capital of the world. These grants support local fashion manufacturing and promote economic growth,” said New York City Council Member Gale A. Brewer. “I have championed garment manufacturing in New York City throughout my career in government and I thank EDC for their commitment to the industry through programs like the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative.”

“Congratulations to this year’s FMI winners! Manhattan has long been home to every corner of the fashion industry, and we must continue to take pride in how our city leads in fashion design and production,” said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. “Fashion is key to our city's economy, and I look forward to how FMI winners will revolutionize fashion as we know it.”

“I am truly honored and thrilled to be a first-time recipient of the 2024 FMI Grant Fund. This recognition inspires us to continue striving for excellence in our industry,” said 2024 FMI recipient Rosagna Hernandez. “This grant will significantly enhance our operations by allowing us to acquire essential equipment and technology, enabling us to expand our services and better serve our community.”

“It is imperative we keep a foothold in the garment district to best accommodate our client base and continue our successful business model of serving the theatrical/performance industries,” said Timberlake Studios Founder and 2024 FMI recipient Sarah Timberlake. “Being in close proximity to those workrooms has an incalculable value toward the collaborative process which is so important to the success of the design in relation to the overall artistic production. We also always appreciate the technical skills and products of the fashion industry and continue to tap into those specialty items or re-train machine operators in the methods specific to costume building.”

The Fashion Manufacturing Initiative’s programs over the past decade have included the FMI Grant Fund, separate relocation grants, COVID-19 relief grants via the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund’s A Common Thread, workforce relief and training programs, and more. The FMI also includes a full open access Production Directory on CFDA.com, featuring 380 local U.S. manufacturing resources for designers looking for new development and production partners.

Additional supporters of FMI include Premier Underwriter Ralph Lauren, as well as other past partners such as Andrew Rosen and Theory, DHL, the American Apparel & Footwear Association, Coach Foundation, Walmart, and more.

About NYCEDC 
New York City Economic Development Corporation is a mission-driven, nonprofit organization that works for a vibrant, inclusive, and globally competitive economy for all New Yorkers. We take a comprehensive approach, through four main strategies: strengthen confidence in NYC as a great place to do business; grow innovative sectors with a focus on equity; build neighborhoods as places to live, learn, work, and play; and deliver sustainable infrastructure for communities and the city's future economy. To learn more about what we do, visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.