7th Street

While I often tend to avoid speaking or bring up politics with anyone, I'm afraid that Miss Anna Wintour may have had a point when she said you can often read the world's political story from a good editorial spread. However, this time it isn't what is being worn: The story can be found in the cloth, the buttons, zippers, and thread.

The Garment District of New York (mainly 7th ave and 30th St) is under fire. Many designers such as Anna Sui, Ralf Lauren, Donna Karan, Kenneth Cole, etc are based in New York, and much of their fabric, buttons, zippers, etc are purchased in the district. While their actual samples may be assembled in...Italy (although some are done here in America), it is in NY that the final tweaks are made before the mass product is produced. Yet with rental spaces rising in rent costs, these mom and pop owned stores are being pushed out of their own livelyhood.

Spaces that used to rent for $20 a square foot are now going for $80. Many owners are shutting down, or simply walking away. What does this mean for the industry? It means small business owners are being hit hard, and as a result our American based designers may have to look to China or India and outsource. Marcus Wainwright of Rag & Bone claims that with the closing of these businesses, "All these women who have been sewing all their lives will have to go to work at Wal-Mart, and that will be the end of that craftmanship."
For the American baised designers and consumers, it could mean much more than a lost of craftmanship. It could mean the end of loyality.

So what are designers doing to help? Anna Sui has teamed up with fellow designers and designed a tee. Many designers durring their New York shows have made it manditory for their staffers and crew to wear the shirt. Marc Jacobs will walk out at the end of his show wearing one. However, with such a creative board, you would think they could have come up with a better shirt. C'on now Ms. Sui.

Gad, that font is fugly.