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Save the garment center t-shirt
The fashion district was buzzing yesterday at a rally to save the garment center.
Gathering together at the Needle and Button statue was the perfect place to come rally for fashion support.
Leading and organizing the rally Nanette Lepore spoke out about legislation to promote production in the garment center and honor the city zoning for manufacturers.
The iconic fashion symbol was packed with an upwards of 600-800 people all in support of saving the world’s fashion capitol.
Industry supporters like the CFDA, The New School, Fit Alumni, GWFCC and a roster of designers teamed up with Lepore to take a stand. With the fashion district united as one voice we heard from Controller Bill Thompson, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Designer Nanette Lepore speak out.
Though the meeting spot was at the Fashion Center Statue they were not involved in the rally. Barbara Randall President of the Fashion Center tells me “We are trying to be supportive of the rally to find meaningful solutions. This is a profound change going on. Thank god there are people willing to speak out during these [economical, political, emotional] times."
What is the message here? “When you have a problem there is a call to action and a suggested behavior change to remedy the problem” Randall says.
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Nanette Lepore after the rally
In an effort to preserve what Randall calls “a hemorrhage of job loss” in 1987 Ed Kotch zoned the side streets of the garment district to remain fashion-manufacturing facilities.
With 200,000 jobs in the garment center at that time the impact of rents chasing out manufacturers would be devastating to the community and unemployment deficit.
As times have changed and more companies outsource production can we still rationalize this zoning?
“We continue to lose jobs, zoning isn’t an effective mechanism for job preservation. It continues to diminish” Randall says.
What can we do that is meaningful? Everyone claims that the rents are too high but yet Randall tells me the garment center has the lowest rents in Manhattan. “If the industry is still diminishing than there has to be another reason for it… But no one has figured it out.”
She asks me “How do we keep the jobs? You have to get work! Designers take work overseas and I don’t care if they have free rent if you don’t have business you are out of business. There’s a missing piece here of how to solve this problem. Its not a real estate issues.”
“We [The Fashion Center] invested millions of dollars to keep this the home of the fashion industry and we have a vested interest to invest in it!” She stresses the importance of keeping the factories busy and how vital they are to the future of the New York fashion industry.
“I agree with Nanette if young designers can’t make there stuff locally they won’t be able to enter into the industry” says Randall.
Catching up with Lepore after a successful rally she tells me “It’s important for government to know how we do business. I don’t think they know we are here, I don’t think they know what we do; I don’t think they understand the impact we have on the industry. We want the mayor and the city to understand the importance of the fashion industry. This is an industry to be proud of!”
Lepore and other designers and manufactures are concerned that revoking zoning would lead to real estate development of condo’s, and chain restaurants eradicating the history and culture of American Fashion.
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Rally flyer and listed supporters
“Who wants another chain restaurant? I get so mad when I see them popping up all over” Lepore says.
Lepore tells me as a designer she does well with her line but reminds me she isn’t a huge corporation with unlimited funds. She fears that if we lose zoning that local manufactures will be driven out by high rents.
If the garment center loses its local manufactures we don’t only lose jobs but we eliminate the trade all together. We also eliminate the possibility of new designers and smaller designers from producing their collections.
Lepore tells me “We are happy with how we operate we have control over production here, over workers wages and control the working environments of our employees. It’s time [for landlords] to stop thinking about money and use their conscience. It’s about helping one another and having a sense of integrity.”
Randall tells me this is an important issue not only to Fashion but also to our city. “New York is a world class city and has to have a marquee. New York is a source of glamour and makes the city interesting. Fashion is important to New York”
Save The Garment Center rally isn’t just about rents, or zoning, but supporting the American workforce. Let’s call attention to a problem that requires help from everyone to ensure the district’s continued history and prosperity.
As a creative industry known for ingenuity let’s band together to help one another solve this crisis. Its your life, your world and your future what do you have to say about it?
Call for Action Email Addresses:
Mayor Bloomberg http://www.nyc.gov/html/mail/html/mayor.html
Christine Quinn Quinn@council.nyc.ny.us
Scott Stringer Bp@manhattanbp.com
Jed Howbert Jhowbert@cityhall.nyc.gov
Amanda Burden Aburden@planning.nyc.gov
Patrick Murphy Pmurphy@nycedc.com
Barbara Randall Brandall@fashioncenter.com
Nanette Lepore info@savethegarmentcenter.com
Comments
Great Article, I love it, especially the links at the bottom to help us be pro-active.
These contacts don't all work!?!? I have had an email bounce back fyi...
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