UNITE — the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees —  represents thousands of garment, laundry and warehouse workers in New York City. In one way or another, the labor of these workers is connected to fabric — whether they are making the garments people wear, washing the cloth that people use, or packaging the clothes that people buy. This essay highlights the work of UNITE members in New York City. Photography by Sam Hollenshead.