The document discusses the Toronto fashion cluster which includes over 550 apparel manufacturers that generate $1.4 billion in annual wholesale shipments. The cluster also includes over 4,600 retail stores generating $2.6 billion in annual sales. The cluster is supported by organizations like Toronto Fashion Incubators and hosts numerous fashion events throughout the year like L'Oreal Toronto Fashion Week. Several colleges also offer fashion programs to support the industry. Marketing activities within the cluster are often collaborative between retailers and designers. Information about fashion clusters in Hong Kong and New York is also provided.

1. Fashion Cluster From the GTA and beyond

2. Toronto Fashion Cluster (Overview) GTA cluster members Support structures Events Marketing activities Information from clusters in other communities (France, New York)

3. GTA cluster members Toronto is home to more than 550 apparel manufacturers with wholesale shipments totaling nearly $1.4 billion annually or 16% of the $9 billion Canadian market. More than 4,600 Toronto fashion retail stores generate annual sales of $2.6 billion.

4. GTA cluster members (Continued) Manufacturers: Danier Leather, Dominion Hosiery, Macmor, McGregor, Phantom, Vikeda, Weston Apparel, Wing Son Garments. Media: Citytv's hit Fashion Television and Fashion Television Channel; CBC's Fashion File ; magazines such as Elle Canada, Fashion, Fashion Quarterly, Flare and The Look. Retailers: Bata, Harry Rosen, Holt Renfrew, Hudson's Bay Company, Reitmans, Roots.

5. Support structures TFI (Toronto Fashion Incubators) are a helpful tool for designers and clothing manufactures that are just getting started of within the industry. The TFI website can help in the following areas becoming a designer starting your business developing your line producing your line promoting your line selling your line working in fashion fashion interest

6. Events Annually Toronto Host a Fashion week, many celebrities from around the world attend L'Oreal Toronto Fashion Week, www.lorealfashionweek.ca , a twice-yearly event on the international fashion calendar presents ready-to-wear collections by top Canadian designers to national and international media and buyers. (March 17 to 22 nd ) Other events of the cluster include New York fashion week, Paris France fashion week

7. Fashion School’s in GTA Ryerson University -Fashion Designer -Fashion Communication -Retail Management Gorge brown -fashion techniques and design -Fashion management -Fashion Business industry -International Fashion development and management Seneca College -fashion techniques and design -Fashion management -Fashion Business industry

8. Marketing Activities There is an abundance of advertising activities thought the GTA The Fashion cluster often works together on Marketing initiatives, depending on the industry sector of the cluster Retailers often work together more often that designers on marketing activities

9. Hong Kong Fashion Cluster Hong Kong is a globally known Hub for sorting and manufacturing clothing for around the world Over 1,500 manufacturing firms The Manufacturing Industry within Honk Kong employees over 22,000 people. This is a huge economic contribution. Hong Kong fashion designers are known for the elaborate elegancy, and creative design sense

10. New York Fashion Cluster New York provides 10% of national employment in fashion apparel and textiles 2001 the fashion industry employed 122,000, with 9,618 establishments. Half of NY employment is in manufacturing, 1/3 is wholesaling.