New York Offers Perks to Keep Garment Industry in City

Many of the world's most revered designers create their fashions in New York City. But often those designs are manufactured overseas to save money.

Now, New York is providing economic incentives to encourage more manufacturing in the city and entice emerging designers to take root there.

In New York City, the fashion industry accounts for more than five percent of the workforce and generates nearly $18 billion a year in retail sales.

Despite economic ups and downs, wholesalers, manufacturers and designers have been doing business here in New York's Garment district since the 1880's. Mayor Bill de Blasio says the industry is integral to the city.

“Not only a functionally key sector of our economy but one of the most iconic industries in this city. Something so deeply identified with the character and personality of New York City and we want to make sure it stays that way and, in fact, becomes stronger,” he said.

This year, the City will allocate $15 million to encourage emerging designers and manufacturers to create fashions locally through a program called Made in New York.

Eligible companies like Leota, must sell at least 1,000 products annually and design, cut, sew, assemble and finish their fashions in the city. Founder Sarah Carson is looking forward to additional Made in New York production incentives.

“Getting that financing as a small business, as a growing business, is really key to expanding my business here to creating more jobs right here in New York and fueling the growth of the garment industry and fashion industry in New York,” she said.

Leota was launched in New York four years ago and has steadily grown. But manufacturing in New York has limitations -- sky-high rents, an aging workforce and outdated technology.

“We lack some of the technology that we need to do some of the knitting techniques and laser cutting and popular styles that people are buying right now," Carson said. "We can’t make them here.”

The Made in New York program provides incentives to factories that invest in technology and workforce development. So far, the city has granted more than a million dollars to eligible factories.

Kenny Hung owns the local factory where Leota designs are manufactured. It's a family business he runs with his wife, Carmen. He says there is not enough consistent fashion manufacturing work to keep his seamstresses busy year round.

To help fix that, the city created an electronic platform connecting local designers with local production facilities. Hopefully, that means more business for factories and skilled workers.

Plus, if Hung invests in technology upgrades, he could qualify for cash incentives that would position his factory as an even more attractive option for New York-based designers.

New Yorkers hope to see the 100 percent Made in New York distinction more often in the future.

世界上许多最富盛名的设计师都在纽约进行时尚设计，但是为了降低成本，他们往往将生产放在海外。

如今，纽约以经济激励的方式鼓励设计师们更多地在纽约市进行生产，并力图吸引设计新星扎根纽约。

在纽约市，服装业占据着5%的劳动力市场，每年创造将近180亿美元的零售额。

19世纪80年代起，无论经济潮起潮落，批发商、制造商和设计师一直在纽约的时装区做生意。纽约市长白思豪（Bill de Blasio）说，时装业已经与这个城市融为一体了。

他说：“时装业不仅仅在功能上是我们的重要经济组成部分，而且还是这个城市最具标志性的工业之一。它与纽约的气质和个性深深相印，我们希望它能一直这样，甚至变得更为强烈。”

今年，纽约将花1千5百万美元鼓励设计新秀和制造商通过一个名叫“纽约制造”的项目在纽约本地进行时尚创造。

像莱奥塔这样符合条件的公司，需要每年至少销售1000件产品，并且在纽约市进行设计、剪裁和缝纫全过程。创始人莎拉∙卡森（Sarah Carson）期待 “纽约制造”项目有更多的奖励措施。

她说：“对于一家小企业，一家成长中的企业来说，得到这些资金非常有助于我在这里扩展业务，为纽约创造更多就业岗位，并且带动纽约服装业和时尚业的发展。”

莱奥塔公司四年前在纽约创建以来一直稳步发展。但是，在纽约生产存在一些局限，比如房租过高、劳动力老龄化以及技术陈旧。

卡森说：“我们缺乏一些必要的技术来进行针织、激光裁剪或是生产流行的款式。我们没法在这里获得这些技术。”

“纽约制造”项目为那些投资于技术和劳动力发展的工厂提供经济激励。到目前为止，纽约已经为符合条件的工厂提供了一百多万美元。

肯尼∙洪（Kenny Hung）在当地拥有一家工厂，莱奥塔公司的设计就是在这里生产的。这是他和他的太太一起经营的家族企业。他说，他所接到的时装订单不足以让他的裁缝们一整年都有活儿干。

为了解决这个问题，纽约市创造了一个电子平台，将当地的设计师和服装厂联系起来，希望工厂和熟练的服装工人有更多的生意。

另外，如果洪先生投资于技术升级，他还将有资格获得现金奖励，这也会使他的工厂对纽约设计师更有吸引力。

这条裙子是100%的纽约制造，纽约人希望在未来看到更多这样的荣耀。