Hospitals across the country face dwindling supplies of medical equipment. Hospitals have been rationing supplies and some have been asking staff to reuse masks until they become soiled.
Although factories already exist that produce protective apparel, they are clearly overwhelmed by the speed of the Coronavirus pandemic.
Several apparel industry companies are stepping up to help.
Also, craft stores are teaching us how to make protective masks at home.
Here are a few of the many efforts being taking by the fashion industry.
Gap Inc., which is headquartered in San Francisco, said it's ready to help produce medical protective apparel. The company, which also owns brands such as Athleta, Banana Republic and Old Navy, is pivoting resources in some of its factories to help making masks, gowns and scrubs for medical workers.
Fast Retailing, the parent company of Uniqlo, is working with manufacturing partners in China to make 10 million protective masks. At least 1 million of those masks will be donated to hospitals in the United States.
Hanes will start to produce masks for health care professionals at some of the companies apparel manufacturing facilities. This is a valiant effort to help the courageous health care workers on the front-lines of the battle against the coronavirus pandemic. Hanes masks will be of great help to the nation.
We are not certain of full details but have read that Neiman Marcus' sewing team has also been making scrubs for medical workers using fabric donated from Joann Fabrics & Crafts.
- JoAnn Fabric and Craft Stores is the latest to help by giving away free at-home mask-making kits for people to complete and donate to hospitals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHrnS6n4iA&feature=youtu.be
Europe is also receiving help from the fashion industry.
Inditex, the parent company of Zara, is helping to make masks for first responders. The company based in Galicia, Spain, said in a statement that it is also looking into making hospital gowns.
The Kering Group also dedicated some of its factories to help fight the deadly virus in France.The company said it will import 3 million masks from China.
H&M is working with its supply chain partners to quickly produce personal protective equipment for hospitals in Europe.
The above mentioned companies are obviously only a small portion of the companies that are taking steps to help. Many other great companies are participating, but are unfortunately not mentioned in this article.
Help support the fashion companies.
https://www.gap.com/
https://www.hanes.com/
https://www.neimanmarcus.com
https://www.joann.com/
https://www.inditex.com
https://www.kering.com/
https://www.fastretailing.com/eng/
Learn more about medical masks & N95 masks here on the Fashion Blog.
Update 3/30/20: adding: Monterey Mills and Eder Flag Manufacturing Respirator Masks
Learn about personal protective apparel.