CFDA supports local manufacturing with 3 new developments

By

Robin Driver

Published
Oct 3, 2020

In celebration of Manufacturing Day 2020, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) has announced three new developments that seek to support domestic fashion manufacturing, including the third round of its A Common Thread microgrant program.
 

On Friday, the CFDA announced that 47 NYC-based manufacturers will be receiving microgrants totaling $500,000 through the latest round of the A Common Thread program. Launched by the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund, the initiative seeks to raise awareness and funds for members of the American fashion community impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
The third round of the program focused on fashion manufacturers that suffered due to the disruption caused by New York State business closures implemented in reaction to the pandemic.

The CFDA and the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) also announced the launch of the Workforce Relief Collective, a new business development program offering resources conceived to help manufacturers and their employees deal with the obstacles posed by the ongoing health crisis as they restart their operations.
 
Resources on offer include free or low-cost products and services related to transportation, health and safety.
 
In terms of transport, the initiative offers Lyft ride credits, distributed through the LyftUp program, which aims to provide free or discounted rides for those struggling to access reliable transportation.
 
Through a partnership with eco-friendly cleaning product company Blueland, the Workforce Relief Collective is also offering a three-month supply of surface cleaning products to fashion manufactures who apply for support.
 
Furthermore, the initiative is sourcing other products, including masks, face shields, hand sanitizer and digital thermometers, in order to offer them to manufacturers for free or at a low cost.
 
Finally, the third new development revealed by the CFDA is the launch of its Production Directory Guide.
 
Launched in 2013, the CFDA’s Production Directory is an open-access resource that catalogs domestic development studios and production facilities, allowing fashion designers to find local manufacturing partners.
 
The new user-friendly digital guide launched on Friday seeks to facilitate this process, offering step-by-step instructions on how to navigate the directory, as well as a full roster of manufacturers, which now features more than 270 listings.
 
Supporting local manufacturing is one of the key commitments of the CFDA, which launched the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative in 2013 in partnership with the NYCEDC and industry personalities such as Andrew Rosen and Ralph Lauren.