Innovation in Fashion for the Greater Good
Community News | April 13, 2020
As the coronavirus pandemic strains medical resources in countries around the globe, we are delighted to see our members in the luxury, fashion and beauty industry pivoting their production from perfume, clothing, and cosmetics to create masks and other personal protective equipment to help those in need.
Continue reading for a recap on our member's efforts in recent weeks:
LVMH
Since the beginning of lockdown measures in France, our member LVMH has taken a number of large-scale actions to help the country’s public health authorities. The perfumes and cosmetics production sites of Parfums Christian Dior, Guerlain, and Parfums Givenchy retooled their lines to make large quantities of hand sanitizer gel for hospitals. LVMH also secured orders for several million FFP2 surgical masks for French health authorities, as well as respiratory equipment, with delivery expected in April. The Group has stated that they will continue this solidarity as long as it is necessary.
Hermès
The French Maison in our member network Hermès has made substantial donations to public hospitals in the Paris region. It has also mobilized its manufacturing facilities to produce essential protective supplies - Hermès’ fragrance manufacturing site in Vaudreuil has already created 30 tonnes of antibacterial hand sanitizer, donated to the Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, as well as 31,000 protective face masks, produced by the Hermès Groups’ various facilities.
After donating millions of dollars and medical supplies to China and Europe, the French conglomerate and FACC member Kering has turned its efforts toward helping the U.S. in its battle against the COVID-19 pandemic by donating $1 Million to Help COVID-19 First Responders in partnership with the CDC Foundation to get lifesaving resources to those in need.
Chanel
FACC member Chanel is currently creating prototypes at their workshops, as they must gain approval from French authorities before they can be mass-produced. In addition, Chanel has also pledged to pay its French workers for two months as a way for them not to have to rely on unemployment from the French government. The goal is that this will relieve the government of some financial burden and allow it to put that money toward health care. The brand has also given $1.3 million to an emergency fund for the public hospital system in Paris.
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