Vuitton masks for MTA
WORKING as a transit worker has never been more fashionable. Louis Vuitton has donated 2,500 tasteful, crisp, white cloth masks to MTA front-line workers. Sources say the MTA is distributing the nonsurgical masks this week across its agencies — NYC Transit subway and bus, Long Island Rail Road and Metro-North. Louis Vuitton is owned by luxury conglomerate LVMH, which also controls brands such as Christian Dior and is owned by France’s richest man Bernard Arnault. But one MTA insider said, “Don’t expect our workers to be sporting the fashionable LV insignias like Miley Cyrus did with her mask, as that is not what Louis Vuitton is making for essential workers.” The insider adds that because the masks have tie fastenings, they cannot be worn by subway, train or bus operators, nor track workers, who according to MTA safety guidelines, must wear masks with ear loops. The face masks were produced in the maison’s workshops in California, Texas and New Jersey. LV has also donated 25,000 face masks to several NY hospitals, as well as donating millions of masks in France. “The LVMH Group and its maisons have been actively engaged since the outbreak of the COVID-19 crisis to help battle the spread of the virus . . . Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior Couture, Loewe, Celine, Kenzo and Fred have all begun making or supporting production or distribution of large quantities of alternative nonsurgical face masks to help protect against contamination, as well as hospital gowns.”