Garment District, Manhattan

The Garment District is a special neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City. It is also called the Garment Center, Fashion District, or Fashion Center. It is very small, less than 1 square mile, and lies between Fifth Avenue and Ninth Avenue, from 34th to 42nd Streets.

This area is famous for making and designing clothes. Many important fashion labels and showrooms are located here. The Garment District has been the heart of fashion design and manufacturing in the United States since the early 1900s. Being close to this district has been very important for anyone wanting to be part of the American fashion world.

Geography

The Garment District in Manhattan is a place known for making clothes. Long ago, it was surrounded by Sixth Avenue to the east, 25th Street to the south, Ninth Avenue to the west, and 42nd Street to the north. Today, it is usually found west of Fifth Avenue, below 42nd Street, and as far south as the mid- or upper-20s. The area between 28th and 38th Streets, especially around Seventh Avenue (called "Fashion Avenue" since 1972), used to be the heart of the clothing industry. Over time, the district has become smaller and is now mostly between Fifth and Ninth Avenues and 35th and 41st Streets. Some real estate developers now call parts of this area Chelsea.

Fashion Institute of Technology is located between 26th and 28th Streets from Seventh to Eighth Avenues.

Role in fashion

New York City is the top fashion city in the United States, with the Garment District at its heart. This area is where many famous fashion labels, like Carolina Herrera, Oscar de la Renta, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Liz Claiborne, Nicole Miller, Ben-Amun, and Andrew Marc, have their showrooms and offices.

Over the past 50 years, the fashion industry in the Garment District has changed. High costs and competition have led many manufacturers to move their work outside the city. Despite efforts to protect manufacturing jobs, the number of fashion jobs in the area has continued to shrink.

History

19th century

New York City became an important place for making clothes, especially for people who needed them. It was easier for slave owners to buy clothes from New York than to have slaves make them. Tailors in New York also made clothes for sailors and explorers when they had extra time.

In the early 1800s, most people either made their own clothes or bought custom ones if they were rich. But soon, more ready-made clothes of good quality were made for everyone. The sewing machine, invented in the 1850s, helped this grow a lot. The need for many uniforms during the American Civil War also helped the clothing business grow.

Women were the main workers before 1840, but by 1880, men took over many skilled jobs. Many of these men were Jewish immigrants from Poland and Russia who knew how to use machines. German and Central European immigrants also brought useful skills. By the early 1900s, many workers in the clothing business were immigrants from Eastern Europe. They helped create the American style of clothing.

At first, it was hard to organize workers because there were people from many different places. But as more Jewish workers from Eastern Europe came, unions began to form.

With lots of workers ready to work and good ways to sell clothes, New York City could meet the demand. By the end of the 1860s, most Americans bought their clothes instead of making them. In the 1870s, the value of clothes made in New York went up six times. By 1880, New York made more clothes than the next four biggest cities put together. In 1900, the clothing business was three times bigger than the city’s second biggest industry, which was making sugar.

20th century

By 1909, New York City was a top place for making clothes for both women and men. The city’s role as a fashion center helped, with new styles all the time. In 1910, 70% of women’s clothes and 40% of men’s clothes in the country were made in New York.

Cheaper labor and factories overseas have changed the New York clothing industry for many years. This has forced many designers to move their work out of the city, affecting small shops that make clothes and supply parts like zippers and buttons. Some worry that if making clothes stops, many designers will leave, and New York might lose its place as a top fashion city like Paris and Milan. The two big fashion events each year, in September and February, bring many visitors and money.

The Garment District Alliance, a group that helps businesses in the area, works to keep the Garment District strong. They have created a Fashion Walk of Fame, held art festivals, and set up information kiosks to help people in the fashion business.

Some people in the fashion business started a campaign called Save the Garment Center to keep fashion businesses in the area. But as making clothes has gone down, many big clothing factories have turned into office space. Now, the area has equal numbers of fashion and non-fashion businesses like accounting, law, public relations, and technology companies.

Between 1990 and 2000, the number of people living in the district grew from 2,500 to 10,281.

The Garment District faced hard times during the COVID-19 pandemic, losing many businesses and visitors. There has also been more open use of harmful substances in the area. Money from New York State’s "NY Forward" fund has helped non-profits and community businesses, but some people say more needs to be done to keep the area safe.

Transportation

The Garment District is close to many places where you can catch trains and buses. You can walk to Penn Station, where trains from New Jersey Transit, Amtrak, and the Long Island Rail Road stop. It’s also near Grand Central Terminal for the Metro-North Railroad. The New York City Subway has stops at 34th Street–Herald Square, 34th Street–Seventh Avenue, 34th Street–Eighth Avenue, Times Square–42nd Street/Port Authority Bus Terminal, and 42nd Street–Bryant Park/Fifth Avenue. The Port Authority Bus Terminal is located at Eighth Avenue and 41st Street, and PATH trains can be found at 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue.

Visitor attractions

The Garment District in Manhattan has some interesting spots to see. The Fashion Walk of Fame is a special landmark just for American fashion. You can also find sculptures like Needle Threading A Button at the Fashion Center Business Improvement District's Information Kiosk and The Garment Worker by Judith Weller. Famous fabric stores like Mood Designer Fabrics, which appeared on TV’s Project Runway, are here too. You’ll also find well-known shops such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Urban Outfitters in the area.

21st century

In August 2025, the New York City Council made a big change to the area. They approved a plan to change 42 blocks from only making clothes to allowing homes and other uses too. This is expected to bring over 9,500 new homes, including more than 2,800 that will stay affordable. It will also bring over $448 million for the community, including $122 million to help clothing businesses. Just before this, on August 12, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission chose five old buildings from the early 1900s to protect because of their history with clothing workers.