Press

New York, NY – April 2, 2026 – The New York Fashion Innovation Center (NYFIC), a statewide initiative supported by Governor Kathy Hochul and Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation (NYSTAR), today announced the awardees in the third round of its grant program. With a total of nearly $80,000 supporting eight projects, NYFIC’s most recent round continues to invest in farmers, researchers, manufacturers, and designers advancing New York–based manufacturing capacity across fashion and interiors.

NYFIC’s biannual grant program supports sustainable fiber and dye production, emerging biomanufactured materials, and a stronger textile supply chain, with products rooted in New York–grown and processed materials.

The Round Three Grantees are:

• Tosin Alabi, Diabetech (Syracuse) – Developing a farm-to-wearable tech supply chain using New York fibers for textile components in health-monitoring devices.

• Stephanie Downs, Uncaged Innovations (White Plains) – Partnering with a New York leather finisher to develop a scalable, low-impact process that expands the color range of its ELEVATE biomaterial.

• Jonathan Farber, Well Away, LLC (Leeds) – Producing handcrafted wool comforters within a vertically integrated farm-to-home textile model.

• Juan Guzman, Capro-X, Inc. (Brooklyn) – Scaling a circular bioplastic derived from fermented dairy waste for use as a flexible material in textile and fiber applications.

• Casey Lardner, Genspace; Helen H. Lu & Columbia University (West Harlem) – Launching biofabrication workshops that explore the intersection of biology, fashion, and sustainable materials.

• Traci Reed, Knit Resort (Hollis) – Transforming leftover and deadstock materials into upcycled yarns, reimagined for knitwear sampling and small-batch production.

• Anne Scully-Juerss, Bield Farm (Clinton Corners) – Building a portable fiber tumbler to improve and accelerate wool processing for regional farms and artisans.

• Stephanie Seal Brown, Stephanie Seal Brown Studio (Newburgh) – Creating woven textiles from New York longwool breeds for use in interior design.

Empire State Development President, CEO and Commissioner Hope Knight said, “Under Governor Hochul's leadership, New York continues to invest in emerging technologies to help unlock new partnerships and support commercialization. The latest round of grants will help to strengthen the state's textile supply chain while encouraging sustainable growth across these dynamic industries.”

Susan Easton, Product & Marketing Director of NYFIC said, “Each grant represents an investment in the people and practices shaping the future of textiles in New York. Together, these projects are expanding what’s possible, from farm or lab to finished product, while laying the groundwork for long-term industry expansion.”

Beyond funding, Grantees receive access to:

• Mentorship from NYFIC’s statewide consortium, including Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), SUNY Morrisville, Hudson Valley Textile Project (HVTP), Made X Hudson, and The Field to Fiber Company.

• Resources and sourcing connections to New York farms, mills, designers, and manufacturers, including support through the Northeast Fiber Exchange (NEFX).

• Business development support, including NYFIC’s three-month accelerator focused on customer discovery, business planning, and go-to-market strategy.

• Opportunities to showcase work at NYFIC-hosted events and statewide industry gatherings.

• Access to the NYFIC Lab at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, for fiber and textile prototyping, testing, and development, opening to the public in Summer 2026.

NYFIC encourages designers, manufacturers, farmers, and researchers across New York State to stay engaged through future funding opportunities, workshops, and public events.

For more information about NYFIC’s grant program, visit www.nyfic.org/grants and follow us on Linkedln.

Media Contact:
Susan Easton
Product & Marketing Director
347-524-5488
susan.easton@nyfic.org

About Empire State Development

Empire State Development is New York's chief economic development agency, and promotes business growth, job creation, and greater economic opportunity throughout the state. With offices in each of the state's 10 regions, ESD oversees the Regional Economic Development Councils, supports broadband equity through the ConnectALL office, and is growing the workforce of tomorrow through the Office of Strategic Workforce Development. The agency engages with emerging and next generation industries like clean energy and semiconductor manufacturing looking to grow in New York State, operates a network of assistance centers to help small businesses grow and succeed, and promotes the state's world class tourism destinations through I LOVE NY. For more information, please visit esd.ny.gov, and connect with ESD on LinkedIn, Facebook and X.

About ESD’s Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation (NYSTAR)

Empire State Development’s Division of Science, Technology, and Innovation – known as
NYSTAR – advances technology innovation and commercialization in New York State. NYSTAR offers programs that assist companies from start-up through maturity, leveraging the state’s unparalleled investment in world-class technology assets and expertise. It provides about $70 million annually in funding to support over 80 centers that provide direct assistance to New York State companies — a network of vital assets for enabling technology — and manufacturing-led growth and job creation. NYSTAR and its partners are proud to contribute to New York’s leadership in the global innovation economy. For more information, visit esd.ny.gov/nystar.NYFIC’s grant program supports researchers, farmers, manufacturers, and designers working to advance sustainable and locally made textiles. The grants catalyze new ideas, encourage collaboration, and strengthen the circular supply chain across the state. This first group of winners reflects the diversity and creativity of New York’s fashion and interior design industries.