CFDA names Fashion Manufacturing Initiative Grant Fund recipients

By

Gabriella Lacombe

Published
Apr 24, 2019

The Council of Fashion Designers of America has announced the winners of its 2018-19 Fashion Manufacturing Initiative Grant Fund.

Recipients of this year's program, which marks its sixth round, include Atelier Amelia, Button Down Factory, Create-A-Marker, Geri Gerard, Hertling, New York Embroidery Studio, Not Just Lace, Park Avenue Trimming, Rainbow Leather, SN Productions, Tailored Industry, and Timberlake Studios.

Each of the 12 finalists received a financial grant for a combined total of $730,000, making it the program’s largest investment to date.

One of the CFDA’s many initiatives to promote the American fashion industry, the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative Grant Fund is organized in partnership with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) to support domestic manufacturing and its workforce. Its founding partners include New York-based clothing retailer Theory and its recently departed CEO Andrew Rosen, with Ralph Lauren and the Coach Foundation counted among its underwriters.

According to the CFDA, the grants are intended to help recipients invest in equipment and software, infrastructure upgrades and capital improvements, relocation costs and workforce training, and offer designers advanced services and preserve fashion manufacturing jobs in New York City’s fashion industry.

“Providing grant assistance for upgrades and expansion costs is key to ensuring that the garment manufacturing industry stays strong in New York,” said James Patchett, NYCEDC president and CEO.

“By investing in local manufacturing, we are supporting the fashion industry at-large and we will continue to expand our programming to build a viable production sector in New York City,” added Steven Kolb, president and CEO of the CFDA.

Since the grant program’s inception, a total of $3.5 million has been distributed to 33 manufacturers throughout New York City, the CFDA said.