The Journal
What "made in NYC" actually means in 2026
Cut downtown, sewn in Brooklyn and Queens, finished on Mercer. A nine-mile supply chain — and the names of every shop in it.
"Made in NYC" used to mean something specific: cut, sewn, and finished in a Garment District factory within walking distance of Bryant Park. That District has lost about 80% of its sewing capacity since 1990. Most of what carries the label today is cut downtown and sewn in Queens or Brooklyn — which is still real local manufacturing, but it''s not the same supply chain.
Our chain, fully named
Pattern-cutting: Ana Reyes, 38th & 8th (since 2019). Cutting: Lalo & Sons, West 36th. Sewing: two contractors — one in Sunset Park (Brooklyn), one in Long Island City (Queens). Finishing and pressing: back at our atelier on Mercer. Total radius from sketch to finished garment: about nine miles.
The atelier label says "Made in New York City" because every step of construction happens inside the five boroughs. We don''t use "Made in USA" — too broad — or "Made in Manhattan" — narrower than the truth.
Why it matters
Three reasons. (1) Quality control is in person; we walk into the sewing floor when something looks off. (2) Lead times are weeks, not seasons; a small re-cut is a phone call. (3) The contractors we use are the people who taught the trade to the contractors who taught the trade to them. We''d like to keep that line going.
Visit the atelier
SoHo, by appointment.
Come see the collection in the room where it's made. Private fittings, in-house alterations, and a glass of something while you try the pieces on.