Bloomberg Looks To Change Immigration Reform To Help Fashion Industry

Mayor Bloomberg insists America's immigration policy hurts New York's Fashion Week.

The mayor was joined by nearly a dozen fashion industry mainstays, including Diane von Furstenberg and Oscar de la Renta, in calling for work visa reform.

The New York Observer explains that Bloomberg wants to end low allowances on visas and delays in processing which "ultimately lead to inconsistent work visas that raise costs for businesses."

Companies looking to cut costs often move production overseas.

"New York City is the fashion capital of the world, and that means thousands of jobs for our City - not only for models and designers, but also for seamstresses, deliverymen, clothing manufacturers and caterers," Bloomberg said. "But if international fashion companies face too many visa problems in America, they will simply move their billions in revenue and thousands of jobs to our competitors overseas. We need an immigration strategy that supports our businesses, instead of getting in their way."

The industry generates $9 billion in wages and $1.7 billion in tax revenues every year.

Bloomberg's proposal is similar to a bill suggested by Rep. Anthony Weiner in 2008.

Weiner's legislation would have made it easier for foreign models to gain visas to work in America.