New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani skips attending the Met Gala, but he uses the occasion to draw attention to workers in the fashion industry. In remarks reported Monday, Mamdani says the fashion sector depends on thousands of people working behind the scenes, including seamstresses, tailors, retail workers and delivery drivers. He frames their work as essential to the industry’s output and says their talent and dedication should be recognized and celebrated. The reporting across outlets notes that while Mamdani is not at the high-profile event, he still publicly focuses on individuals who typically are not featured prominently in fashion coverage. The New York Times and The Hill both describe his message as centering on labor and support roles across the supply chain rather than on designers or public-facing figures.