Fashion Caucus Finally

Flickr image via Nati

Besides all the glitz and glamour, fashion is big business and an enormous manufacturing industry in the US.  For too long our industry has gone unrepresented in Washington DC.  The hundreds of thousands of Americans working in fashion deserve a voice in Washington.  Well, it seems that somebody else agrees because the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce is working to create an official fashion caucus.

If their plan works the fashion caucus will represent our industry in all related national matters.  The idea is being modeled after the Textile Caucus who’ve been successful in protecting the US textile industry.  The caucus has received support from many House Democrats, including New York’s own Carolyn Maloney.  One key mission of the caucus would be to create a fashion endowment fund which would serve as a safety net for the industry and provide scholarships for fashion students.  While there are many projects on their agenda we are most excited by their plan to save NYC’s Garment Center.

Many in the fashion industry are a buzz over this ground breaking movement and the CFDA is no exception. Steven Kolb CFDA director said, “If it was the right group that had an affinity to our industry and understands its impact both in terms of employment and jobs, and strengthening the American economy, then it is an interesting idea.” While there are certainly many details to be ironed out, a fashion caucus will only help strengthen our industry.