Save the Garment Center

The fashion industry is full of social and financial and moral injustices. But it's also full of people fighting them.

And you can, too, should this winning look be up your sartorial alley.

The mayoral election is less than a week away, and it'll be a big one for New York City residents. After three terms under Michael Bloomberg, a new administration will be an adjustment, if not a major change. And while crime, stop-and-frisk, education, and the current administration's nemeses—sugary beverages—are issues of frequent discussion (and contentious, snark-filled mayoral debates), there's another topic affecting the local economy and industry that's worth discussing, especially now: the future of New York City's fashion industry under new leadership.

Fashion week dates aren't the only thing the CFDA has decided to move this year. The Council of Fashion Designers of America, whose offices have been located on Broadway & 39th for over 15 years, have outgrown their Garment District digs and recently signed a lease on a new space about 38 blocks downtown (we're neighbors!). The CFDA, in addition to supporting American designers, have been dedicated to the preservation of the Garment District and established programs like the CFDA Fashion Incubator (low-rent studio spaces for emerging designers in the Garment District) and a study called "Made in Midtown." So, not surprisingly, their decision to move out has been met with some disapproval from designers who see it as a snub to them and the district they, too, would like to preserve.