The Garment District in Midtown Manhattan rose in the early 20th century as the center of American fashion, home to thousands of factories and showrooms that produced most of the nation's clothing. From the 1970s onward, manufacturing declined due to rising rents and overseas production, leaving many buildings converted into offices and studios. Nearby, Koreatown emerged in the 1980s along 32nd Street as Korean immigrants opened restaurants and shops, gradually expanding east and south.