Matt

UWS

Cloth, fabric, thread, sewing machine -- the raw materials for clothing, or we could try and summarize it by saying "The Garment Industries/District"

From "shmattas" to haute coiture, the clothing trade is still a strong economic engine and vital part of NYC.

At the turn of the last century the garment trades provided work to immigrants who were looking to make better lives for themselves and their families.

The rise of the sweatshops led directly to major changes we take for granted -- modern fire codes, workplace safety, and the labor movement.