On January 7, the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) announced two new grant programs aimed at strengthening the foundation of fashion manufacturing in the United States. Both initiatives are designed to enhance the competitiveness of the domestic apparel manufacturing sector, support workforce development, and promote sustainable economic growth in regional communities.
Support Program Focused on New York’s Garment District
One of the newly launched initiatives, the CFDA × NY Forward Grant Fund, was developed with funding from the New York State Department of State and Ralph Lauren Corporation. The program provides partially matching grants to designers and manufacturing businesses based in New York City’s Garment District.
Through support for capital investment, modernization of production systems, expansion of services, and workforce development, including skills transfer, the program aims to enhance the sustainability of urban fashion manufacturing.
A Nationwide Manufacturing Support Fund
In addition, the U.S. Fashion Manufacturing Fund has been established with Ralph Lauren as its founding partner. Unlike the New York–focused program, this fund targets apparel manufacturers across the United States, with the goal of strengthening manufacturing capacity beyond regional boundaries.
Both programs share a common objective: to reinforce the production capacity and resilience of U.S. fashion manufacturing by upgrading aging equipment, advancing manufacturing processes, and cultivating the next generation of skilled workers.
More Than a Decade of CFDA’s Manufacturing Support
These new grant initiatives build on the achievements of the Fashion Manufacturing Initiative (FMI), launched by the CFDA in 2013. FMI has been developed with the long-term support of the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC), Andrew Rosen, and Ralph Lauren.
To date, Ralph Lauren has contributed a total of $2 million as FMI’s Premier Underwriter, enabling grants to 54 factories and generating a positive impact on more than 2,000 jobs.
Steven Kolb, CEO and President of the CFDA, commented: “Strengthening American manufacturing to ensure designers have local partners has long been at the core of CFDA’s mission. We are proud to extend our decade-plus work with Ralph Lauren Corporation and expand to a national level while also continuing our local NYC investments alongside our first-ever partnership with the New York State Department of State.”
Katie Ioanilli, Chief Global Impact & Communications Officer at Ralph Lauren Corporation, added, “Our expanded partnership with the CFDA reflects Ralph Lauren’s enduring commitment to advancing innovation and supporting American fashion. This is not only an investment in our industry — it’s an investment in a vital part of American culture that we share with the world.”
Protecting Manufacturing Hubs and Connecting to the World
Together, these two grant programs represent a clear commitment to sustaining New York’s Garment District while strengthening fashion manufacturing across the United States. By centering innovation, craftsmanship, and local communities, the initiatives aim to ensure that American fashion continues to maintain a strong presence in the global market.
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