April 14, 2020 |
Although the fashion industry is bound up with unprecedented levels of certainty during these current times, with the couture, resort and menswear shows scheduled to take place in the coming months postponed or axed completely, fashion brands – no matter big or small – are helping in the fight against the COVID-19 virus. Everyone from Giorgio Armani, Miuccia Prada and Versace, to Burberry, Gucci and Balenciaga have each been doing their bit, whether it be dedicating their factories to producing PPE equipment or providing financial support to charities and organisations dealing with the impacts of the virus. Since our first two run-downs on how the fashion industry been contributing aid on a global scale, additional brands have stepped forward to offer vital assistance.
Earlier this morning, it was announced the Zegna group has re-opened parts of its production facilities, both in Switzerland and Italy, to manufacture a total of 280,000 protective hospital suits. This protective gear will be then taken to Switzerland’s Canton Ticino and the Piedmont Region of Italy, which is urgently under-supplied in PPE equipment. In addition, after it was already announced LVMH has halted the production of their cosmetics and perfumes to use their facilities to produce large quantities of alcohol-based hand sanitisers, Louis Vuitton has dedicated its French workshops to create non-surgical facemasks and hospital gowns to help protect front line workers.
Other brands across the globe have followed similar initiatives. Mackintosh has dedicated its entire factory in Nelson to produce uniforms for NHS nurses. Despite the production of Mackintosh product being frozen, all staff working at the factory have volunteered to work on the production of the vital equipment. Similarly, fashion and textiles students at Central Saint Martins have also been creating non-surgical scrubs for NHS staff, and have released the patterns to create the garments through the university’s website. Across the Atlantic, Nike has teamed up with the Oregon Health & Science University to create face shields for health workers across America.
Brands are also aiming to restrict the general public’s bulk-buying of vital PPE equipment by providing innovative ways to create DIY masks at home. Christopher Kane is offering a free craft pack to create your own face masks with unused fabrics from previous seasons for anyone who emails them their full name and UK postal address, whilst Rockins have given insta-tutorials on how to create make-shift masks from their signature bandanas.
As the virus spreads across the globe at rapid speeds, Hermès has pledged €20 million to help fund Parisian public hospitals, whereas Diesel, alongside providing healthcare structures and technological equipment to Italian health facilities, will donate 10% of all online sales to the Only The Brave Foundation throughout April. JW Anderson has also pledged to donate 10% of its online sales, which will go to akt, a charity which supports LGBTQIA+ young people in difficult living conditions across the UK.
London-based designer Dilara Findikoglu has announced she will be donating a percentage of her SS20 sales to the Artists and Freelancers Hardship Fund, whilst Sports Banger down in Seven Sisters has been dropping his NHS x Nike bootleg shirts on a weekly basis, with 100% of the profits going straight to providing meals for NHS workers at four of the capital’s major hospitals. Stay safe, stay indoors and wear your Sports Banger t-shirt with pride.
Top image courtesy of @zegnaofficial. For all information on what to do if you’re feeling any symptoms of COVID-19 please visit the NHS official website.
