13th April
COVID-19, how have the fashion and beauty industries helped?
With the ongoing worldwide pandemic, healthcare systems, governments and communities have come under pressure. With fashion and beauty industries halting production, some have been using their resources to help with the struggle.
In March, NHS staff stressed the lack of protective equipment was putting their lives at risk. This caused many businesses, around the country, to donate products to healthcare staff.
Founder of UK beauty company donates to support the NHS
Founder of Nouveau Beauty Group, Karen Betts, announced that she was donating leftover masks, hand sanitizers, gloves and disinfectant wipes to the NHS. Betts closed her company temporarily, and decided to donate over 100,000 items to NHS hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes across the UK.
But help does not just stop in the UK...
Global fashion houses have transformed their factories, from producing runway collections to manufacturing medical clothing to donate to pressured healthcare services. Gucci pledged to make over one million medical masks. With Prada and Yves Saint Laurent announcing they will be following suit.
On 31 March, Armani announced that all Italian production plants had been temporarily switched to manufacturing medical overalls - to donate to protect healthcare workers, working to fight COVID-19.
'Having an audience, no matter how small, means that you have a responsibility'
Malvika Sheth, founder and digital content creator of luxury fashion and beauty platform StyleByMalvika, discussed how she has been concentrating efforts towards COVID-19.
'I have been very...honest on my Instagram...sharing my appreciation for front-line workers and those risking their lives. I continue to share tips and general safety guidelines. I decided to put up a few stories with causes that stood out to me - COVID-19 Response Fund by WHO, Feeding America, and Meals on Wheels'.
'A lot of my income relies on brand deals...most...were all cancelled, as was travel. However...there are much larger issues happening. I am just very grateful that I'm able to keep myself and my loved ones safe and take...time to reflect'.
'Taking a selfish approach and assuming that nothing would happen to you...would just set off a chain reaction of others doing the same. My goal starting StyleByMalvika was to leave a positive impact on individuals, educate or inspire them'.
The UK Government's response to the situation
Speaking to the BBC at the end of March, Health Secretary, Matt Hancock said: 'We’ve got a huge programme of work, making sure millions of masks...all the other equipment...that they’re delivered. At the same time, buying the equipment because while we’ve got stores now, we’re working through them.'
'It’s about doing everything we can to keep the frontline...staff safe.'
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