Fashion Caucus To Represent Industry On Capitol Hill

Fashion is being taken seriously in Washington--and not just by Michelle Obama--WWD reports, with the establishment of the industry's first caucus, called the "Congressional Apparel Manufacturing and Fashion Business Caucus." It will be directed by Reps. Diane E. Watson (D-Calif.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) and Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.).

The group will work with the Greater Washington Fashion Chamber of Commerce, which actually spearheaded the creation of the caucus. The GWFCC's president Christine Brooks-Cropper has an ambitious agenda:

She has asked the caucus chairs to address are obtaining funding to help generate a fashion incubator and provide scholarships to fashion students, job creation initiatives, "revisiting" stalled legislation known as the Design Piracy Prohibition Act that would provide copyright protection for fashion designers and supporting efforts to save the New York City Garment District.