ABSTRACT
For over a century, immigrants have been vital to the New York City fashion industry. The garment industry has had many incarnations and is always remaking itself, adapting to the changing needs of the city and the immigrants who move there. In 2015, the garment industry is once again remaking itself. While New York City no longer produces garments in great quantities, it is still a thriving center for fashion creativity. Various designers are headquartered there, including those who are immigrants or the sons and daughters of immigrants. For example, Alexander Wang, Jason Wu, Vivienne Tam, and Vera Wang all have their design houses in New York. And while large-scale garment sewing shops are disappearing, small sample shops that create garments for designers in the midtown garment district are still recruiting Chinese and Latino workers in 2015.
