In the wake of the Coronavirus outbreak, many hospitals have found themselves in massively short supply of masks. On Friday, Fashion Designer Christian Siriano tweeted Governor Andrew M. Cuomo of New York saying that his team working from home would help make masks if needed.
If @NYGovCuomo says we need masks my team will help make some. I have a full sewing team still on staff working from home that can help.
— Christian Siriano (@CSiriano) March 20, 2020
Cuomo responded that his team is in contact with Siriano, urging others to help as well.
Thank you @CSiriano!
Who else can help?
We are #OneNewYork https://t.co/8vJrpvGfpC
— Corey Johnson – FLATTEN THE CURVE & STAY HOME (@CoreyinNYC) March 20, 2020
Siriano documented the process on his Instagram story, working through several prototypes before posting the final version on his account.
“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,” Siriano captioned his post. “More to come thank you everyone we hope to get these to the right people ASAP.”
Siriano hopes to make 1,000 masks for New York City hospitals in the next few days, he told Womenswear Daily. In the same interview, he encouraged anyone with a sewing staff on hand to aid in the effort.
“I really think that if anybody still has team members who are sewing or who can sew, especially in New York, we could make a few hundred a day. There are only so many people who work in a hospital. Fashion could really change everything in a week. Look, we have nothing else to do right now. Nobody is buying clothes so what can we do? I hope that everybody can pitch in.”
Other designers, including Brandon Maxwell, have reached out to lawmakers and healthcare officials regarding requirements for hospital gowns. As sterile items, there is a certain standard to which these garments must comply, as such, some designers are waiting on more information before they are able to assist further.
