Cheerful New ‘Big Button’ Threads Itself Into New York City’s Garment District

In 1996, a giant button appeared overhead of a help center kiosk in the middle of the Garment District in New York City. The booth offered lost fashionistas directions toward areas that sold the best Spandex, or stores with the broadest fabric selection.

Fast forward two decades and the kiosk has since lost its use. In 2017, the Garment District Alliance—a nonprofit organization that deals with preserving the culture and history of the area—commissioned the Big Button to be remodeled to fit the ever-changing fashion world.

The project was spearheaded by Local Projects, which reimagined the previous dark blue button and gave it a fresh new coat in a bright sunny yellow. Its colorway was inspired by the 1900s transit system used to transport visitors and their large spools of textiles from Queens and Brooklyn right into the heart of the district.

Since that kiosk has been removed, the button is supported by a 32-foot chrome needle and threads that evoke the image of an invisible hand in the midst of repairing clothes.

Moreover, to protect the structure from being torn down in the future, the team behind the redesign ensured that it would be large enough to stand on both public and privately-owned land in the city. This mix of land ensures that future owners cannot rip the button out of its home so easily.

[via Fast Company and Time Out, images via various sources]