The Legacy of NYC's Garment Center
The Garment Center in Manhattan has been a central part of the apparel production and fashion industry in the United States and internationally for more than a century. The garment industry was initially composed of mostly Jews and Italians who immigrated to New York from Europe in the late 1800's and early 1900's. To quote Mr. Fischler from the Jewish standard, "Some of the Jewish immigrants who came over didn't have a lot of money, but they had the skills -certainly sewing and clothes- making was something that Jews did in Europe". Source: https://bit.ly/2XF1d4H
In 1910, the garment industry incorporated around 46% of the industrial labor force in the city, with 70% of the nation's women's clothing and 40% of the men's being produced in NYC. By the mid 1980's, nearly 5,000 businesses in the apparel industry existed in the Garment Center, employing about 61,000 people and occupying 20 million square feet related to manufacturing, showrooms, suppliers, service firms, and contractors.
While New York remained the textile manufacturing capital of America for decades, cheaper overseas labor and production has dramatically changed the industry, forcing many designers who once manufactured their lines here to shift production overseas, which has in turn affected small cutting and sewing rooms as well as zipper, button, and supply stores in the Garment District. Source: The Fashion Center Business Improvement District: http://garmentdistrict.nyc/
In the 1980's, due to changes that were brought about from city planning projects, much of the district has shifted from a focus in manufacturing to an office district that includes many fashion related businesses, as well as restaurants and hotels. The days in which NYC's Garment Center employed thousands of people and was the heart of textiles manufacturing in America are over, but that doesn't mean that it has not left a legacy on NYC's artisans. I would go to the Garment Center as a child with my mother, and we would support the artisans who made their living there. Nowadays, as an artisan born and raised in NYC, I am doing my best to keep alive the spirit of American manufacturing that flourished in the garment center, selling my handmade scarves, tote bags, and pocket squares which I design and dye myself. All of my products are made one of a kind of high quality silk, satin, and leather, made right here in my NY studio.
1 Response
DeaAnn Nix
Greetings. Please tell me WHY you started making women’s slacks, capris…etc. with men’s flies in front. It looks disgusting. The garment people even stitch a pattern that looks like a penis. Pants should be flat in front with either side or back buttons or zippers.
Leave a comment
Also in News
How a Tarot Reading Can Help You Make Decisions
Can Tarot Really Help Me Make a Decision?
Yes — but not by telling you what to do.
A tarot reading won’t say “Take the job” or “Leave the relationship.” Instead, it shows you:
-
What’s influencing you
-
What fears or desires are present
-
What energy surrounds each option
-
What you’re not seeing clearly
The goal isn’t control — it’s clarity.
Why Is It So Hard to Decide?
Because decisions are rarely just logical.
They’re emotional. Energetic. Tied to identity and fear. Sometimes you're not choosing between Option A and B — you're choosing between comfort and growth, fear and freedom.
Tarot helps you name the real decision behind the surface one.
What Kinds of Questions Can I Ask?
Instead of asking:
Should I do this or not?
Try:
-
What is the energy surrounding this opportunity?
-
What lesson is present in this decision?
-
What will I learn if I choose this path?
-
What am I avoiding in making this choice?
These open questions give the cards space to speak honestly.
What Will the Cards Show?
The cards reflect what’s already happening inside you — your resistance, your longing, your truth. A good reading won’t push you. It will help you recognize the path you already feel but haven’t fully claimed.
Sometimes, you’ll hear what you already knew. That’s confirmation. And that’s powerful.
Want Help Seeing Clearly?
✨ I offer intuitive, honest tarot readings designed to help you cut through confusion, reconnect to your intuition, and make decisions with confidence.
📘 Want to start decoding the cards yourself?
Explore the Tarot Cheat Sheet and Reversals Guide
📺 Watch sample readings and decision spreads here:
👉 Ripecolor Tarot Channel
📌 Share or revisit this blog:
👉 Ripecolor on Pinterest
Looking for Honest Tarot Guidance? Here’s What to Do
Wondering what really happens in a tarot reading? Learn what to expect, how it works, and how an honest session can bring clarity and grounded insight.
Why Shadow Work Feels Hard (and How Tarot Makes It Easier)
Shadow work is hard because it’s real. Learn why it brings up so many emotions — and how tarot offers a safe, symbolic way to work through what arises.
Jeffrey Goldstein
Author