NYC Mayor places support behind fashion industry

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is placing his support behind the city’s fashion industry with the news that he is to triple the current investment from 5 million to 15 million dollars.

The fashion industry accounts for 5.5 percent of New York’s workforce, pays 11 billion dollars in wages, and generates nearly 2 billion dollars in tax revenue annually, and the NYC Mayor is supporting the industry by announcing new and expanded programmes to help the industry to thrive.

"Fashion is incredibly important to New York City, not just because it helps make us the most creative and exciting city in the world, but because of the hundreds of thousands of jobs and links to economic opportunity it creates," said Mayor Bill de Blasio. "We are determined to ensure that New York City's working designers and manufacturers—and those aspiring to join that community—have the support they need to make it in New York City, and continue to grow NYC as the fashion capital of the world."

The new ‘Made in NY’ schemes will aim to directly support and shine a spotlight on manufacturers, emerging designers, aspiring designers, and design students in New York City, with the new public-private programs, to be rolled out throughout 2015, include scholarships and internships to help immerse emerging talent in the fashion industry, and build upon existing programs to further reinforce the city's manufacturing and design sectors.

The scheme will also be supported by a new digital hub, MadeInNYFashion.nyc, which will promote local designers and manufacturers, as well as providing the fashion industry with valuable resources and information.

In addition, for the first time, the City will offer a 1 million dollar program to connect aspiring design students to the fashion industry via scholarships to study fashion-related disciplines at a New York City-based educational institution, and fully funded internships at fashion companies for current students who wish to gain exposure to the industry.

Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen added: "Fashion is vital to New York City, and we're not just increasing support for the industry, but expanding the City's toolkit to support the fashion industry, from launching a new marketing program and digital hub that highlights New York City companies, to funding internships that help students get their foot in the door at leading fashion businesses."