Over the past week, I've been attending events surrounding the launch of Made in Midtown, the CFDA and New York Design Trust's sprawling multimedia study of the New York City Garment District, complete with interactive maps, data, photographs and videos from Manhattan's last bastion of manufacturing. Sarah Williams, the urban planner who turned statistics into info-graphics and maps like the one below, referred to the area as a "creative cluster"-- one of those concentrated areas of artistic and innovative types that makes cities like New York cultural hot-spots.
Map by Sarah Williams, Spatial Information Design Lab
What's great about the Made in Midtown project is that in addition to creating a virtual version of the Garment District for all the world to visit, it has the potential to make another "creative cluster" around the discussion of the area's future, which will be influenced by city planning and zoning regulations.
At the project launch party, I chatted with a few dynamic women from the fashion world, each of whom has a little personal piece of 38th Street's history.
Fern Mallis, photo by Jenni Avins
First, Fern Mallis told me she grew up with the Garment District, and reminisced about riding the subway from Brooklyn to visit her dad at work on 38th Street and Fifth Avenue, where he sold women's scarves. She said that watching female designers at work in the neighborhood opened her eyes to the possibilities of a profession outside the home -- unusual for women that time.
"It wasn't when every mother was working," she said.
Not bad for the woman who established New York Fashion Week during her tenure at IMG, and now counts the production firm among her clients as a newly independent consultant. Ms. Mallis, sporting a lovely tan, said this summer she'll be spending as much time as possible at the beach - albeit with her two Blackberries - before she hits the ground running at Fashion Week this fall.
After I bid Ms. Mallis goodbye, I found Tina Schenk, who founded Werkstatt, her small garment factory, in 2008 on 38th Street -- the very same street where Ms. Mallis learned women could work.
After a year, Tina's business was doing so well that she had to move to a bigger space on 36th Street. That sun-filled space is where the Made in Midtown folks shot this short video, which focuses on pattern-making, just one step of the garment production process. Tina showed me a jacket she made for Joel Diaz and Christina LaPens' Spring 2009 collection for Jolibe, one of the 12 fashion labels awarded a space in the CFDA's Fashion Incubator on, you guessed it, 38th Street.
Joel Diaz of Jolibe and Christina LaPens of Jolibe
Meanwhile, Christina LaPens, Joel's partner in work and life - and one of those working moms Fern Mallis was referring to - was wondering whether she ought to get home to relieve the babysitter. Luckily, she was only a couple blocks away, since the couple moved their home to a new building earlier this year, incidentally, just a block away from the Incubator on, yup, 38th Street.
Christina was a little sheepish about her home in a new luxury LEED-certified high-rise.
"It's what they're trying to stop," Christina said, referring to the traditional tenants of the Garment District celebrating around her.
Fern Mallis commented on the irony.
"Everybody thinks they love change," she said. "But they don't -- especially in the fashion industry."
But it's because of that luxury high-rise a block away from Christina and Joel's
that they've been able to bring their business to the Garment District at all, enriching the creative cluster.
It's plain to see the plot is thickening in the Garment District.
To take part in the discussion, check out Closettour.com, Made in Midtown or, better yet, attend one of the New York Design Trust's upcoming talks on the topic.
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.