In a great expression of solidarity with medical workers who are on the front line of the fight against COVID-19, key brands in fashion have pledged to manufacture and supply protective items, including masks. The luxury fashion conglomerate Kering SA recently announced that it would switch to producing surgical masks at the French workshops of its brands Balenciaga and Saint Laurent. Both fashion giants will begin making masks for hospitals across France once they receive approval from the health authorities. In the meanwhile, the group will be donating three million masks ordered from China.

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Among the production sites are Saint Laurent’s ready-to-wear factory in the French city of Angers, and Balenciaga’s Paris workshop, reported Bloomberg. Gucci, which is Kering’s largest brand, is also seeking approval from health authorities in Italy to produce more than one million surgical masks. The French health ministry announced earlier this week that the epidemic was “continuing to spread and to worsen.”

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Other major companies, including luxury group LVMH, have offered help and are in the process of producing sanitizing hand gel in factories, where its brands Christian Dior and Givenchy make cosmetics and perfumes. There was a massive 16,018 confirmed coronavirus cases and 674 deaths in France about a week after the government imposed a lockdown for citizens.

Italian luxury brand Prada started production of 80,000 medical overalls and 110,000 masks for health personnel on 18 March. The production plan, which was put into effect following a request from the Tuscany region, provides daily deliveries, which will be completed by 6 April. The articles are being produced internally at the Prada factory in Montone, which has stayed open for this purpose. 

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Also among the first to offer making medical supplies is American fashion designer Christian Siriano. “If we need masks, my team can make them. I have sewers and pattern makers ready to help working from home. We just need all the information on how to help,” he wrote.

As the world continues to battle COVID-19, it’s fitting to see fashion companies come forward and take charge, especially for the heroes in the medical world who are taking the pandemic head-on. And how can the rest of us contribute? By staying at home.

Cover image: Photo by ?? Claudio Schwarz | @purzlbaum on Unsplash