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The New York Fashion Innovation Center (NYFIC) has named the first eight recipients of its $10,000 grant program.
More than 60 applications from New Yorkers were submitted as the opportunity is part of the Governor Kathy Hochul and Empire State Development-backed innovation and next-generation biomaterials accelerator’s biannual grant program (awarding through 2027) supporting New York materials and industry.
The NYFIC said its grant program supports researchers, farmers, manufacturers and designers working to spread sustainable and locally-made textiles as the grants “catalyze” new ideas, encourage collaboration and strengthen the state’s circular supply chain. To that end, the inaugural recipients “reflect the diversity and creativity” of New York’s fashion and interior design industries.
“The first round of grant recipients demonstrates the incredible potential of New York’s textile industry,” said Susan Easton, product and marketing director of NYFIC. “These projects not only address pressing sustainability challenges but also create new opportunities for collaboration and innovation across the state.”
Grant recipients include businesses, organizations and individuals working to advance and scale sustainable textile development.
Kristina Collins (and her eponymous LLC) is researching processes for finishing woven-in-New York wool, creating a “farm-to-fashion” roadmap to scale production and increase opportunities for local wool growers and manufacturers. Jon and Kelly Shultes of Yarn Designs Unlimited are implementing a water-recycling system for their hand-dyeing fiber studio in Schoharie that will reportedly reduce water consumption by up to 60 percent.
Teju Adisa-Farrar of the Black Fiber and Textile Network (BFTN) is developing regenerative home décor in collaboration with New York-based Black farmers, natural dyers and manufacturers, with the resulting collection to be crafted from regeneratively grown fibers and upcycled materials.
Nick Coyle of the eponymous LLC creates handmade carpets using New York state-sourced fibers and natural dyes. Melissa Conroy and Paige Tomfohrde from Cornell University are developing yarn suitable for the industrial knitting machines found in the state’s fashion schools to build a knitwear-centric, farm-to-fashion school supply chain.
Laura Sansone of New York Textile Lab is blending New York-sourced wool and alpaca with upland cotton from Black-owned farms to develop “Climate Beneficial” yarns and woven textiles. Jessie McNaughton of McRea is establishing a sock knitting mill in Rochester to address supply chain gaps and uplift fiber farmers by transmuting raw fleece into finished, market-ready products. Mari Stefano and Karen Oddo of Graze Woolens (D/B/A Graze) are highlighting the potential of local wool by launching a “farm-to-closet” initiative to create high-quality wool sweaters using New York-sourced and manufactured yarn.
“This grant program is a critical step in building a sustainable, connected textile industry in New York,” said Ken Simons, director of NYFIC. “We are thrilled to support these talented individuals and teams as they develop impactful solutions for the future of fashion and interiors.”
In addition to the $10,000 in funding, grant recipients will join a “collaborative cohort of innovators,” gaining access to relevant mentorship, testing and manufacturing equipment, facilities and other relevant resources.
Mentorship is provided by the NYFIC’s consortium of six organizations: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Hudson Valley Textile Project, Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), Made X Hudson, SUNY Morrisville, and Field to Fiber. The recipients can also showcase their projects at NYFIC-hosted events as well as the opportunity to connect with local mills, farmers and designers who can help support implementation.
