About Closely Connected

Built around connection as preservation, Closely Connected addresses a longstanding challenge facing the Garment District: specialized skills can be difficult to find through traditional hiring platforms, while jobs, referrals, and resources often circulate through word of mouth. We’re bringing these connections into one shared space, extending Closely Crafted’s broader commitment to American craft through industry engagement, community building, and workforce development.

“Preserving American craft takes more than protecting the skills themselves. It requires the relationships, steady work, and opportunities that allow those skills to be practiced, shared, and passed on,” said Gigi Burris, Closely Crafted Founder. “Through our workforce development efforts, we’ve seen firsthand the value of connecting a business with the right craftsperson. Closely Connected expands that work beyond individual introductions, creating a shared resource for the broader Garment District community.”

This program is provided through the GDA Business Development Collaborative, bringing Closely Crafted and the Garment District’s business community together to help sustain the district’s makers, workrooms, and specialized skills.

— About Closely Crafted

Closely Crafted is a nonprofit dedicated to preserving and revitalizing the legacy of Made-in-America goods by nurturing artisan equity, cultivating economic wellbeing, and empowering the next generation of creators to carry on the tradition of American craft.