US apparel industry moves ahead with new Hub in New York

The new manufacturing innovation hub for apparel, textiles wearable tech will provide research, design, development, and manufacturing resources for New York´s emerging designers and apparel manufacturers.
Brooklyn is home to the new manufacturing innovation hub for apparel, textiles wearable tech that opened in New York on December 4. The 160,000 sq ft facility will provide research, design, development and manufacturing resources for New York´s emerging designers and apparel manufacturers.

The City of New York, via the New York City Economic Development Corp., will invest $3.5 million to allow for the build-out, modernization, and subdivision of the industrial space. About 300 jobs in 20-30 businesses, including designers, manufacturers and related industries, are anticipated to be housed at the facility.

The innovation hub will include:

• A small-run factory specializing in sample making;
• A research and development center to help develop new fashion and wearable technology capabilities;
• A design accelerator to create an educated pipeline of fashion and manufacturing talent;
• Incubator space containing 12 private studios, classroom space, conference rooms, a computer lab, an industrial sewing room, storage, and work areas for 50 designers;
• A workforce development centre to help train skilled workers.

The Manufacturing Innovation Hub builds upon the city´s suite of fashion initiatives, including the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative, a public-private programme designed to support and promote growth of small businesses in the city´s fashion and manufacturing sectors, as well as seed funding for the CFDA Fashion Incubator, professional mentorship in design and fashion management, and networking and educational programmes.