In Manhattan there are currently a handful of stores which cater specifically to new up-and-coming fashion designers, either by allowing each designer to rent a portion of their retail space to sell their products or by actually buying the lines wholesale. Of course trade shows, showrooms, and sales reps are good ways to route your designs to the public, but young designers typically do not have the cash (or credit) to start out that way. It also doesn’t hurt to establish a direct relationship with the customer — below is a list of potential places to house your designs while still keeping one foot on the ground.

• EDGE*ny - the concept of showcasing young designers by allowing each designer to rent part of the retail space was basically reinvented by Nicholas Petrou many times over. EDGE*NY actually started out as “emerge nyc,” which was born from his original idea, “the MARKET NYC “, more of an informal weekend market at a gym in Soho. EDGE*NY is undoubtedly much more high-end, almost like a gallery of designer boutiques. Designers rent either a booth or counter space, and must man their own part of the boutique. Although the rates seemed a little high the last time I checked it out, it is still relatively cheap compared to opening up a store (especially in NOHO, where EDGE is located) and paying for utilities, labor, fixtures etal. Alternatively, try the MARKET nyc , which is probably more affordable (and more indie).
• the Changing Room - a young designer collective that seems to have ‘moved’ from a physical space in SOHO/LES to online. Hopefully, this retail store will revive itself on the internet, and not die out like countless indie-designer boutiques before it (like Forward NYC in the LES, Soho Burrow on Crosby St, and 30vandam in the West Village).
• the Dressing Room - also in the Lower East Side, this underground designer co-op is also a bar and vintage clothing exchange! I think this will be on my list of places to check out soon.
• INDULGE - looks like another collective, but by blending independent designers’ products with unique established ones, Indulge seems more like a multi-designer boutique in SOHO. I am not sure if designers pay for retail space or not, but it looks like they go through an extensive review before getting selected for the store’s assortment.
• Opening Ceremony - this multi-designer boutique showcases the freshest most cutting-edge designs at all times. The owners are always seeking hard-to-find items and unknown design talents for their store, so if you got what it takes, you should definitely give ‘OC’ a shot!
• Unsung Designers - an international online store for indie designers
• New York Designer - another online store for indie designers, but based in NY
• Habit - a boutique in Chicago dedicated to emerging design talent, this fashion spot is now selling their goods online as well. Note the quality of the products offered.

“The Fashion Center” not only produces the singular district map, but it also runs the famous Information Kiosk (with the gigantic button and needle on top) on the corner of 39th and 7th Avenue. It’s hours are short (M-F 10am-4pm only), so make sure to plan ahead. They kindly give out valuable garment district sourcing information for free, so it is definitely worth a trip. For instance, if you go and say “I’d like to know where to find factories that sew leather,” they will print up a list and hand it to you right there on the spot. This resource is one-of-a-kind for fashion in new york.