It’s been more than three months since COVID-19 has plagued our planet. What started in China has taken over the entire world shifting life indoors. With each passing day, the death toll and the number of positive cases are rising, especially in some countries including India, the USA, and parts of Europe. There is a shortage of protective face masks for civilian use as well as in hospitals across the world. Citizens are going through a tough time–emotionally, physically, mentally and financially.
Amid the global crisis, it is the need of the hour to stand together and contribute in any way possible. Celebrities from different industries are doing their bit by donating to various NGOs and government initiatives to help sail through the pandemic. Some fashion houses have also stepped up in light of the situation to do their bit. And now, luxury brand Louis Vuitton has announced to repurpose some of its workshops to help fight the spread of the virus by making face masks in bulk. Not just that, LV has also reopened its ready-to-wear atelier in Paris to make thousands of gowns for health professionals.
Hundreds of artisans have already been deployed in France to produce face masks. At the Paris atelier, 20 people are currently at work. According to reports, voluntary pattern cutters will begin to work from home next week. LV plans to keep 20 to 30% of these masks for internal use and donate the remainder to retirement homes. The gowns will be given to six hospitals in Paris treating Coronavirus patients.
The face masks are approved by various government authorities and are being produced in collaboration with Mode Grand Ouest, a regional network of the textile industry that is supplying one of the main materials. The gowns are also AP-HP approved. Needless to say, these will be made without the signature LV logo as these aren’t for commercial purposes.
Last month, the French brand’s parent company LVHM had converted some of their factories to manufacture hand sanitisers. Now, this move to produce face masks and gowns comes as another big contribution by the brand. “As an important French House, Louis Vuitton wishes to commit at its level to producing many thousands of masks that will be distributed within the region, at no charge, to protect those who are most exposed,” said Louis Vuitton chairman and CEO, Michael Burke.
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