New York supports its fashion industry

New York mayor Michael Rubens Bloomberg unveiled yesterday six key measures to support the fashion industry in his town. This is an industry that is worth no less than 55 billion dollars, and whose representatives met in October for a rally to save the New York clothing sector. The city has a growing number of young designers and entrepreneurs who are choosing to try their luck abroad.

The first step of this plan is the creation of NYC's Fashion Fund and Institute aimed at preparing young designers and retailers in the fashion business. Then comes the launch of a contest, Project Pop-up, of which the winners will receive assistance and marketing support, with the possibility of creating their own pop-up venture. The third component is the New York City Fashion Draft, a special week during which students around the world can come together to meet professionals.

The NYC Fashion Campus will offer a series of seminars with leading names in the industry that will shed light on the specifics of the fashion business in the Big Apple. The fifth item, called New York City Fashion Fellows, is a bursary scheme which will allow thirty people to receive assistance and contacts to start their own business. The last component, Designer as Entrepreneur will teach business leaders the necessary management skills and e-commerce techniques, through a series of workshops.

These six initiatives have largely been inspired by the FashionNYC2020, a group of professionals led by leaders of Macy's, Theory, Gilt Group, Diane von Furstenberg and LF. The New York City Economic Development Corporation has in turn asked no fewer than 500 international professionals about their way of doing things. Some time ago, Jean-Pierre Mocho, president of the French Federation of women’s ready-to-wear, confided in FashionMag.com with explaining the mayor of New York’s interest in some French initiatives developed with the City of Paris on these topics.

New York supports its fashion industry

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