VOA慢速英语:纽约制造推政策鼓励时尚设计师工作

Many of the world's most respected designers create their fashions in New York City. Often those products are manufactured overseas to save money. Now, New York is providing economic incentives to increase manufacturing in the city and interest promising designers to work there.

世界上颇受尊敬的设计师大多都是在纽约开始他们的创作设计。通常生产厂商都设置在海外来节省成本。现在提供经济激励政策来增加纽约市内生产厂家，并给设计师提供光明前景。

In New York City, the fashion industry makes up more than five percent of the total workforce. The industry also is responsible for nearly 18 billion dollars a year in retail sales.

在纽约，时尚产业占总劳动产业的5%以上。这个行业每年零销售量可高达180亿美元。

Clothing wholesalers, manufacturers and designers have been operating in New York's clothing district since the 1880s.

服装批发商，制造商和设计师在十九世纪八十年代就开始在纽约服装区域展开经营。

Bill de Blasio is the city's mayor. He says fashion designers and manufacturers are important to New York.

Bill de Blasio是纽约市长。他说时尚设计师和制造厂对纽约非常重要。

"Not only a functionally key sector of our economy, but one of the most iconic industries in this city. Something so deeply identified with the character and personality of New York City and we want to make sure it stays that way and, in fact, becomes stronger."

“不仅是我们本市经济的重要支柱，还是本市最具代表性的产业。在纽约这个产业是非常具有明确特点和个性的，我们希望这些东西依旧能在纽约发展，发展的更好。”

This year, the city will spend up to to 15 million dollars to persuade promising designers and manufacturers to create fashions locally. The financial assistance is offered through a program called Made in New York.

今年纽约将花费1500万美元来说服有前途的设计师和制造商来创造纽约当地的特色时尚。这笔资金援助是一个称为“纽约制造”的项目投资的。

City officials say eligible businesses must sell at least 1,000 products every year. They also must design, cut, sew, put together and finish their fashions in New York.

市政官员说符合条件的企业每年必须卖出至少1000件产品。他们还必须设计，剪裁，缝制，拼接，最终在纽约市里完成整个时尚设计工作。

Sarah Carson is the founder of one such company, called Leota. She says she is looking forward to additional Made in New York production incentives.

Sarah Carson是其中一个这种公司的创始人。其公司名叫Leota。她说她正在期待着增加在纽约生产的刺激政策。

"Getting that financing as a small business, as a growing business, is really key to expanding my business here, creating more jobs right here in New York and fueling the growth in the garment industry and fashion business in New York."

“作为一个成长中的企业能像小企业一样活得融资帮助是扩大我的生产业务的关键。可以在纽约创造更多工作岗位，帮助发展纽约服装行业和时尚产业发展。”

Leota was launched in New York four years ago. Since then, the business has grown. But Sarah Carson says manufacturing in New York has limitations. They include sky-high rental agreements for office space, an aging workforce and outdated technology.

Leota四年前在纽约成立。从那之后企业不断壮大。但是Sarah Carson说纽约制造业具有局限性。包括租金太贵，劳动力年龄偏大和科技比较落后。

"We lack some of the technology that we need to do the complicated knitting techniques and laser cutting and some of the popular styles that people are buying right now. We can't make them here."

“我们缺乏一些能让我们做出复杂的编织样式技术和激光切割技术，还有一些现在人们比较流行购买的一些时尚产品的技术。在纽约我们这些东西都生产不出来。”

The Made in New York program provides help to factories that invest in technology and workforce development. To date, the city has approved more than a million dollars to eligible factories.

纽约制造项目为制造商提供了技术资金支持和劳动力。目前，纽约已经批准了超过100万美元为制造商提供资金支持。

Kenny Hung owns a local factory where Leota designs are made. He operates the factory with his wife, Carmen. He says there is not enough fashion manufacturing work to keep their seamstresses busy all year long.

Kenny Hung在当地拥有一家生产Leota产品的工厂。他与他的妻子Leota共同管理着工厂。他说一年中并没有足够的时尚制造工作来保持缝制工作持续进行。

To help fix that, the city created an electronic system for connecting local designers with local production centers. Hopefully, that means more business for factories and skilled workers. In addition, Mr. Hung could be considered for financial assistance if he invests in better technology. That would position his factory as an even more appealing choice for New York-based designers.

为了帮助解决这个问题，该市创建了链接本地设计师和本地生产中心的电子系统。希望这意味着能给工厂带来更多生意和技术工人。另外Kenny Hung如果想投资更好的技术他可以考虑财政援助。这样能让纽约设计师多多选择他的工厂进行服装制造。

From design, to manufacturing to final product, clothing made in New

York City is good for the local economy. It also makes sure that New

York will be a fashion center for years to come.

从设计到生产到最终产品，纽约服装设计产业推动了当地经济的发展。同时还确保了多年来纽约时尚中心地位的经久不衰。

I'm Marsha James.

Reporter Daniela Schrier prepared this story. Marsha James wrote it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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Words in This Story

incentive – n. something that persuades a person to do something or to work harder

eligible – adj. able to be chosen for something

garment – n. a piece of clothing

seamstress – n. a woman who sews, puts together, clothing