Fashion Community Comes Together to Launch a Raffle for New Yorkers in Need

By Thomas Franke

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, as the world came to a halt, a group of fashion designers launched a non-profit: Garment District for Gowns, and quickly mobilized to manufacture much needed medical gowns for hospitals, doctors and healthcare workers.

 Building on this effort, they have launched a raffle fundraiser to provide NYC’s homeless families, patients of The Floating Hospital, with essential items they desperately need. These include personal hygiene products, clothing, socks, underwear, backpacks, and more. 

Donations made through the Garment District for Gowns (GDFG) website will automatically enter donors into the raffle to win coveted prizes with all proceeds benefiting the patients of The Floating Hospital. These prize items have been sponsored by premiere New York designers & creators including:

 Marc Jacobs ●  Oscar De La Renta ● Proenza Schouler ● Monse ● Altuzarra ● 3.1 Phillip Lim ● Prabal Gurung ● Coach ●Loeffler Randall ● La Perla ● Khaite ● Augustinus Bader ● Danielle Frankel ● Discount Universe ● Bose ● Standards Manual ● Cinnamon Projects ● Olivia Wendel ●Maison Cruz ● Piecework Puzzles ● Queen Majesty Hot Sauce
… and many more.

Enter Raffle & View a Full list of Prizes Here.

 “They’re truly amazing, they provide the full spectrum of health care,” says Amy Tiefermann, co-founder. “We want to support them, because they’re supporting so many New Yorkers.”  

“Circumstances can change overnight, we’ve learned that from this past year. We have great power as a community to be able to take care of one another during times like these, even the smallest act of kindness can have the most profound effect,” says Alexandra Baylis, a co-founder.

To date, GDFG has manufactured and distributed medical isolation gowns for over 46 Hospitals and Healthcare facilities, donating more than 11,000 gowns; all proudly made in the U.S.A.  Comprising members of the fashion community – with experience at designer labels including Oscar De La Renta, The Row, Ralph Lauren and Coach—GDFG is an advocate for domestic manufacturing, having mobilized over 1200 U.S. jobs within sourcing and production.