SundayArts knows she’s a devoted advocate of the saving the Garment District, making the most of the city’s manufacturing resources and building her business here in the city. She’s designer Nanette Lepore. She first got her start in the East Village on a shoestring budget, and she’s now a worldwide force in the industry.

In this edition of SundayArts: a preview of Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, including a profile of Harper’s Bazaar Editor-in-Chief Glenda Bailey, a conversation with designer Cynthia Rowley, a survey of the Garment District and the initiative “Making Midtown,” a behind-the-scenes look at the “BOFFO Building Fashion” competition, and a look at fashion in the museums around town.

The business of manufacturing is a vital part of the fabric of New York, but it also happens to be one that’s in danger. In this profile, SundayArts speaks to some of the players working to secure the future of Manhattan's Garment District as a flourishing center of American fashion.