Empire State Development and IMG Announce Recipients of New York Fashion Week Small Business Grants

Ten New York-Based Independent Designers to Receive $50,000 for New York Fashion Week: The Shows September 2022

New York Fashion Week Highlights Safe Economic Reopening and Recovery of America's Fashion Capital

Empire State Development, in partnership with IMG, today announced the 10 recipients awarded funding through the $500,000 New York Fashion Week Small Business Grant. Each of the 10 small, independent fashion designers will be awarded up to $50,000 to offset eligible show production costs for New York Fashion Week's September 2022 season. The grant awardees are: anOnlyChild; BARRAGÁN; Batsheva; Deveaux New York; Elena Velez; Fe Noel; Interior; Studio 189; Theophilio; and Willy Chavarria.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, "The New York Fashion Week Small Business Grant will support diverse and emerging New York-based fashion businesses, encouraging the post-pandemic revitalization of the State’s fashion industry, which is vital to the jobs, economy and creative energy of New York City. In collaboration with IMG, we are proud to help small business fashion designers showcase their work in New York - the fashion capital of America."

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, New York City’s fashion industry employed 4.6% of the city's workforce, generating approximately $11 billion in wages. The New York Fashion Week Small Business Grant will support the vibrant return of New York’s fashion industry while enabling independent New York-based designers to participate in recovery efforts. Designers who produce shows during a major fashion week like NYFW often generate global exposure, demonstrating the potential of using NYFW as a global platform to support business growth and tradeable sectors.

Leslie Russo, President of IMG’s Fashion Events and Properties, said, "With New York as the capital of American fashion and our global reputation for incubating the best next generation of fashion brands, IMG is committed to helping the designer community flourish and grow. We are grateful to Governor Hochul and Empire State Development for showing up and taking action on behalf of New York’s fashion industry. The New York Fashion Week Small Business Grant helps to ensure we will continue to foster vibrant, diverse talent and uplift independent fashion businesses as they develop and thrive right here in New York."

The New York Fashion Week Small Business Grant follows the formation of the IMG Fashion Alliance, first launched by IMG in September 2021 to support the post-pandemic revitalization of New York Fashion Week. New York State played key roles in supporting the initiative, including making State venues like Moynihan Train Hall and Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park, available to designers to showcase their collections. 

IMG Fashion Events & Properties will host a reception for the New York Fashion Week Small Business Grant recipients at its new headquarters in Chelsea’s gallery district. New York Fashion Week: The Shows will take place from September 9-14, with the official hub at Spring Studios in lower Manhattan, and content distribution publicly available across NYFW.com and @NYFW channels.

Contact:
Emily Mijatovic | [email protected] | (212) 803-3692