The Empire Has
No Clothes

A Report by The Center for
an Urban Future-
February 2000

Rising Real Estate Prices
and Declining City
Support Threatens the
Future of New York's
Apparel Industry.

New York City is still the nation's center for high fashion, and apparel is
still one of the city
largest industries. It is
home to high-end
designers such as
Anna-Sui

The city attracts an international gathering
for the bi-annual fashion
shows at Bryant Park and
as many as 125,000
buyers from cities and
towns across the country come to the garment
center several times a
year to get a peak of the latest fashion trends
and to order garments
from wholesalers.

The garment industry
employs 132, 900 people
in fashion related firms
in New York City and the overwhelming majority
are employed by small businesses.

Source: Center for an Urban
Future Press Release
(February 2000)