Washington clothing designers want a fashion industry for the capital

Washington, D.C., often gets a bad rap as an unfashionable city, where Congress has a dress code, lobbyists and think tank employees often follow suit, and traditional office dress can override personal style.

Still, a number of small-scale designers and boutique owners are trying to build up the city’s fashion industry. But with a hole in the production pipeline, there’s a limit to how much they can develop.