20 years, 20 champions. Each instrumental in Design Trust's lasting impact on NYC's public realm. Each another journey.

Hear each champion's story, one every day here on our blog, culminating with a grand celebration on October 14, at Christie's. While enjoying a festive evening of music by AndrewAndrew, cocktails by Templeton Rye, custom photo shoots, hors d'oeuvres and a silent auction of art and design objects, you'll also meet the 20/20 Public Space Champions in person.

Join us to celebrate our champions, who have tirelessly been working to improve the daily lives of New Yorkers for two decades. Jumpstart the next 20 years of urban innovation by buying a ticket to the gala today.

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Award-winning fashion designer Yeohlee Teng's visionary involvement as our partner, along with the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), in the Made in Midtown (2009-2010) and Making Midtown (2011-2012) projects was pivotal for the survival of the Garment District.

Shortly after the release of our Made in Midtown study, the City withdrew its controversial rezoning proposal for the Garment District, which would have moved all fashion production into a single building in the District.

Our study showed how the Garment District supports design innovation, influencing the city's thinking about the neighborhood. Thanks in huge part to Yeohlee and her encyclopedic insider's knowledge, we created a vision for how the Garment District could revitalize its public realm and bolster its position as a fashion research and development hub.

Let's start with a fill-in-the-blank question. Public space is vital, because...

Yeohlee: It's our living space!

In a way similar to how clothing is an indispensable part of our daily life. Do you draw any parallels between fashion and public space at the designing level. What are your thoughts on fashion serving community needs, maximizing resources, and running all-sustainable?

Yeohlee: I believe that design comes from serving a function and is refined through time and process. My designs are driven by material, maximizing the use of each fabric by thoughtful consideration of weight, texture, color, cut and finishing.   

My collections are always designed, developed and produced in New York City. Made in New York has the advantage of a quick, 'just in time' response that is critical in today's economy. This accessibility promotes efficiency, conserves time, energy and resources, and ties in my zero waste philosophy.

What do you envision for the future of the Garment District?

Yeohlee: A thriving innovation hub. It requires thoughtfulness in the planning and imagination in investment, and also a desire to stay at the top of the game of fashion!

Some say fashion innovation is shifting to Brooklyn...

Yeohlee: Ideally the City should have a master plan that links all the pockets of fashion manufacturing—whether Brooklyn, Long Island City, Queens or the Bronx—to the hub in Manhattan. We should put a high premium on the quality of life in our city that is not mono cultural.

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Learn more about our Made in Midtown and Making Midtown projects.