The Business Development Collaborative is a multi-year program that offers free training, consulting, events and creative services to the diverse ecosystem of Garment District businesses, entrepreneurs and workers. The goal of the program is to catalyze business development in the Garment District, ensure the neighborhood’s workforce remains competitive, and foster the ongoing dynamism of the district now and into the future.

Partners   Programs   Resources   Contact   Join

Learn more about the program's success and lessons learned below.

The Business Development Collaborative program is provided through a cohort of artisan- and worker-focused collaboratives, university industry innovators, and expert consulting organizations. Our partners are selected annually through a competitive Request for Proposals process.
 

Program design and administration is led by Resilient Cities Catalyst, a global non-profit organization of urban  practitioners and resilience experts that helps communities solve their most pressing challenges.

Garment District businesses, entrepreneurs and workers can access the following free program services and support: 

• One-on-one specialized consulting & services

• Group trainings, courses and certifications

• Employee, intern and apprentice placements

• Networking events

See the BDC Program Calendar for more information about upcoming services and events, or reach out to Ameneé Siahpush (asiahpush@rcc.city) to learn more about the program.

• The Garment District BDC Program Directory is available for your sourcing, networking, and partnership needs. This list includes many local manufacturers.
• Program successes, challenges and lessons learned can be found in the Year 1 Report: "Strengthening the Economic Resilience of the District" and the Year 2 Report: "Driving Innovation and Resilience in the Garment District."
• ITAC’s “Faces of the Garment District” Feature showcases the diverse backgrounds and experiences of Garment District businesses - including the unique services they offer, the challenges they have overcome and the importance of being located in the district.
• Nest’s Garment District Landscape Report and 2021 Addendum offers a thorough summary of the unique challenges and strengths of the district’s manufacturing and artisan community, including key priorities and needs.
• Nest’s New York City Legal Resource guide provides information on local lawyers and firms who are able to support district businesses as they overcome various COVID-related challenges.
• Nest’s NYC Garment District Makers United: Sourcing Directory aims to build connections between buyers and artisans by providing a contact list of district manufacturers, suppliers, wholesalers and retailers.
• Nest’s video detailing The Benefits of Working with Garment District Businesses.
   

Please reach out to Ameneé Siahpush (asiahpush@rcc.city) for more information or general questions about the Business Development Collaborative program -- or feel free to reach out to our cohort of program partners.

Custom Collaborative

A New York City-based entrepreneurship and workforce development program that trains and supports women from low-income and immigrant communities to launch fashion careers.

Contact - (info@customcollaborative.org)

E-Com Fashion

Providing consultation, business development and digital strategy services designed to help businesses grow their business in the online digital space.

Contact - Allen Ray Sales (allen@e-comfashion.com)
              - James Rizon (jamesr@e-comfashion.com)

FIT

Fashion Institute of Technology's Center for Continuing and Professional Studies provides Workforce Development support by offering adult learners the opportunity to earn Certificates in areas of interest or to upskill themselves to better positoning in their current employment.

Contact - Lisa Kesselman (lisa_kesselman@fitnyc.edu)

ITAC

A premier manufacturing advisement firm that connects New York City firms to ideas, resources, and experts to help them grow their businesses, improve their bottom lines, and achieve their strategic goals. ITAC works with companies throughout the five boroughs, helping them expand into new markets, create innovative products, develop their customer base, find new partners, improve their processes and develop sustainable practices. 

Contact - Andy Ward (AWard@itac.nyc)

Kent State University's School of Fashion

The NYC Fashion Program is a Study Away location for the School of Fashion at Kent State University, located in a mini-campus in the Garment District.

Contact - Ann Walter (awalter8@kent.edu)

              

Made in NYC

A Pratt Center for Community Development initiative that supports local manufacturers and makers by giving them marketing and branding resources, valuable skills-building opportunities, and access to a supportive community of peers within the sector.

Contact - Taylor Novick-Finder (taylor@madeinnyc.org)

Nest

A nonprofit supporting the responsible growth and creative engagement of the artisan and maker economy to build a world of greater gender equity and economic inclusion. Through programs that support the wellbeing of artisans both in the United States and globally, Nest is bringing radical transparency and opportunity to the informal handworker economy.

Contact - Nicole Franklin (nicole@buildanest.org)

Shifterr

Founded with a mission to create an equitable society through collaboration and accessibility, Shifterr aims to create a partnership between employers and employees. They connect employees in hospitality to job seekers looking to fill shifts, and make it easier for job seekers to access training, resources and flexible job openings.

Contact - Tracey Hobbs (tracey@getshifterr.com)

JOIN THE BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COLLABORATIVE

Business Development Collaborative partners are selected through a competitive annual Request for Proposal (RFP) process. All submitted proposals are reviewed by a committee of industry experts that provides recommendations to the Garment District Alliance Board of Directors.

New opportunities to participate in the Business Development Collaborative will be posted here in the future.