In the 1980s, about 70% of all clothes sold in the United States were made here in the country.

Today, it's down to just 3%, with most factories moving overseas.

One of the casualties, traditional craftwork, like weaving fabric, cutting leather, and polishing gemstones.

The fashion industry is now trying to preserve these crafts.

Special correspondent Pavni Mathal reports from New York for our arts and culture series, Canvas.

If you see the cardboard is off, so you have to push it a little bit towards me.

It's only her third day at work in Alden Muka is getting a master class.

We're going to take our hand like this and start.

George Kalation is teaching her the age-old technique in pleading fabric.

He gathers cardboard folds to mold the material underneath.

This handiwork and precision takes years to master.

Okay, good. Now.

This isn't something you can learn online,

especially with a tactile

skill where you need to be doing it by hand. You can't learn it any other way. And it's not

really taught in schools either. So you have to find a craftsman, a master to be able to learn from.

Tom's son's international pleading is a multi-generational business. Collasian's grandfather started it in Lebanon.

In the 70s, when the Civil War broke out, the family moved to New York City.

Experts in pleading, they work with the biggest names in high fashion.

Over the years, business has been shrinking, as companies are increasingly producing overseas.

Kalasian says immigrants made New York the fashion capital.

Now that American dream is hanging by a thread.

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