New York fashion designer Christian Siriano responded to New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s plea for help to fight the coronavirus pandemic. The request was for people to manufacture or donate face masks to safeguard medical staff against COVID-19. New York healthcare facilities are running dangerously low on supplies, especially face masks. Siriano offered to help by assigning his team of seamstresses to make as many masks as possible, working from home.
He wrote:
I have a full sewing team still on staff working from home that can help.
BuzzFeed News just announced that Siriano’s sewers have begun working, and an arrangement with the governor is in place to create masks for the state’s hospital personnel.
Siriano’s publicist said:
They’re starting to make them now, which we will donate and then a plan will be put together as we flesh it out to manufacture more.
Since then, Siriano has shared videos and photographs of the manufacturing process on social media showing how “prototypes are happening.” In photos, the cream face masks neatly laid out in folded piles are placed in clear plastic bags ready to be shipped. In videos, he has a model to demonstrate how the mask works and how to put it on to ascertain “a perfect fit.”
We will be making a few versions of this in order to help as many people as we can. Here is the process so we can get a perfect fit. More to come thank you everyone we hope to get these to the right people ASAP pic.twitter.com/Pow7H4D0xT
— Christian Siriano (@CSiriano) March 20, 2020
He wrote:
We will be making a few versions of this in order to help as many people as we can. More to come. Thank you, everyone, we hope to get these to the right people ASAP.
Many people were inspired by Siriano’s gesture and have reached out to join the efforts. He thanked everyone for their desire to put their sewing skills to good use, helping others in need, but cautioned that the masks must meet the state’s safety regulations before production can begin. Nevertheless, he encourages everyone to try creating masks, saying:
We are making waves and working on getting approvals before we start anything. It’s very important before anyone does anything to help, please make sure what you are making is safe and hopefully, FDA approved. We must be smart.
Since so many people are out of work and have to stay at home anyway, why not try and help out making masks… the more, the merrier!
