The latest in a seemingly endless series of symposiums on the precarious state of the Garment District, "Urban Fabric: Creation in the City", brought together yet another group of industry insiders to discuss strategy to prevent the garment industry being phased out of its neighborhood.
Of course, we believe wholeheartedly in the cause, but late it seems like there are a ton of good ideas constantly being thrown around, and not enough action. Panelists on this particular evening including Parsons The New School of Design dean of fashion Simon Collins, Vogue contributing editor Miranda Brooks, Deborah Martin, the executive director of the Design Trust for Public Spaces and others, who all met at Yeohlee Teng's studio to discuss ideas and intiatives to drive foot traffic and maintain the livelihood of the Garment Distruct. Some of the topics on the agenda included the opening in April of Wyndam's Fashion 26 hotel on West 26th Street, concentrating Parsons students in the neighborhood, a "Made in New York" manufacturing program and other incentives to produce locally. At this point, we're all behind the momentum -- we're just hoping we start to see results.
