The CFDA’s Fashion Manufacturing Initiative (FMI), a program created in collaboration with the New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and supported by many industry leaders including Andrew Rosen and Ralph Lauren, has announced today that it will be supporting A Common Thread, Vogue and CFDA’s COVID-19 pandemic-related relief initiative, by immediately donating $500,000 to A Common Thread. 

All funds contributed by the FMI will be used solely for supporting New York City-based fashion manufacturers and their workforce in the spirit of FMI’s mission of supporting and preserving New York City’s fashion manufacturing sector. 

As of March, Vogue and the CFDA made the decision to repurpose the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund (originally established in 2003 to aid emerging design talent in the wake of 9/11) to provide support for those in the fashion community affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. A Common Thread was created by Vogue and the CFDA as a fundraising effort and accompanying video series that provides pandemic-related relief to the fashion community.

In light of the pandemic, the CFDA and NYCEDC decided to pivot part of its overall FMI budget to A Common Thread for microgrants that will help cover business disruption expenses that manufacturers have incurred while being closed over the last several months. 

With the contribution from the FMI, A Common Thread has now raised $4.9 million of which over $2.13 million was granted to 44 businesses in the first round and $2.015 million granted to 37 businesses in the second round of funding, 

Applications are now open until June 25, 2020 at 11:59pm ET. Access the application here.