Domestic Apparel Manufacturing Ramps Up in NYC During Manufacturing Day Celebration

Oct. 2, 2014

Manufacture New York, a fashion incubator and factory for independent designers, moves into New York City’s Garment District as domestic manufacturing increases.

Adrienne Selko

This week, and just in time for National Manufacturing Day, Manufacture New York (MNY), a fashion incubator and factory for independent designers, has moved from a pilot space in New York City’s Garment District into a massive 140,000-square-foot facility in Brooklyn’s Liberty View Industrial Plaza. The new complex will provide research, design, development, and manufacturing resources for New York’s emerging designers and apparel manufacturers.

MNY recently won a $50,000 grant from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The group, which is spearheading a resurgence of apparel manufacturing in the U.S., is one of only 50 winners out of 800 applications nationwide to earn a grant as part of the Obama administration’s Growth Accelerator Fund competition. MNY is the only New York City-based incubator to win the SBA award.

Bob Bland, CEO, Manufacture New York explained this movement to IndustryWeek last year.

In the last two decades, the U.S. has lost 90% of its apparel manufacturing jobs. The post-recession picture hasn't been very encouraging either, with emerging designers lacking the infrastructure, resources, and industry support needed to make substantial gains in domestic production.

The smartest way forward for apparel manufacturing may be one that runs counter to the conventional wisdom. Essentially, the time has come for a return to 'Made in USA.'

In the last decade, a number of industry veterans grew tired of designing quality merchandise extolling the virtues of New York City, only to have it produced in China. A consensus began to emerge of completely Made-in-USA labels that could utilize local sourcing from the Garment District and all five boroughs of the city.

Check out IndustryWeek's complete coverage of Manufacturing Day 2014.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.