Top fashion designers sew PPEs for frontliners
WHAT can the Philippines’ celebrated fashion designers do amid the coronavirus pandemic? The answer is a whole lot of difference.
A number of the country’s top couturiers are lending their talent, resources and ateliers to produce scarce but vital personal protective equipment (PPEs) for healthcare workers and other frontliners.
Michael Leyva turned his atelier into a PPE factory with the help of his master cutters and sewers, assuring frontliners help is coming their way on his Instagram account. Leyva wrote, “We are one (in) this. #TeamMichaelLeyva will be donating PPEs, head covers and masks for our heroes #frontliners.
“Mabuhaypokayoatsalamatsa dedikasyonatpagmamahalsaating bayan. This wouldn’t have been possible without my team’s dedication and willingness to help. Stay home, stay safe and we will get through this together. God will be with us. #SinulidContraCovid.”
Leyva’s celebrity muses were quick to praise the designer for his initiative, among them Anne Curtis who posted, “Mabuhay ka @michaelleyva.” “God bless you @ michaelleyva and the entire team!” Kim Chiu wrote, while actress and beauty queen Vicky Rushton said, “May God bless you more and more and more.” Kathryn Bernado posted three heart emojis in the comments section.
Angel Locsin, who is also actively helping out in the crisis, asked Leyva, “How much per piece?” The designer replied, “Will give you dear. Parasamgabayaninatin like you.”
Pattern for heroes
Mich Dulce — whose design have been worn by the likes of pop star Lady Gaga, socialite Paris Hilton, VogueNippon editor and fashion icon Anna Dello Russo, and British singers Paloma Faith and Shingai Shoniwa — has also rallied industry friends and fashion suppliers to help make PPEs.
“Dear friends, my friend Cynthia Diaz has rolls of 75 gsm non-woven fabric she would like to donate that can be made into protective suits, masks and shoe covers. In lieu of this, VP (Vice President Maria Leonor) Leni (Robredo)
will be lending us samples of protective gear so we can make pattern(s from them) and begin production. My studio will be focusing on making this from home. The gear will be distributed via the Office of the Vice President,” Dulce posted on Instagram read.
“To friends in the fashion industry who have studios still in operation or with capacity to work from home and want to help, please DM (direct message) me and let’s try to get this material to become something our health workers can use. If you have a sewing machine you can help. Once we make the suit patterns we will make copies and distribute alongside the fabric,” she continued.
“It’s all very new and I have to think more about logistics, so if you have any ideas, please let me know. Keep safe.”
For those interested in helping, Dulce listed the materials needed for making PPEs. These are water repellant fabrics such as umbrella/ raincoat material, poly microfiber and taffeta; non-woven material 50 gsm and up; zippers of 26 inches or longer, or continuous zippers; garter/elastic 1/4 inches thick; velcro; twill tape/ribbon 1/4 inch thick; and manila paper (for pattern replication).
Garment factories were among the first to heed Dulce’s call saying they were ready to receive the pattern for
PPE production as soon as possible.
As of press time, Dulce said close to 400 volunteers have pledged to sew protective suits for the frontliners.
“Now we have more makers than material so I am posting this call for donations. I urge everyone to centralize donations via @chynchong for distribution to volunteers rather than go to individual makers so that we can account for all donations and be completely transparent about how [they are] used and each maker will be accountable for fabric [they] receive,” Dulce said.
“I will be uploading the pattern for the suit. Please be patient with us while we make the tech pack accurate and detailed. Thank you for all you generosity,” she ended.
Heroes’ designers
Besides Leyva and Dulce, other top designers who are making PPEs for donation to frontliners are Patty Ang, Steph Lim, Patrice Ramos Diaz, Puey Quinones and Rajo Laurel whose team is designing and manufacturing hazmat suits.
“A little help will go a long way... We all must help in every possible way,” the famed couturier said on social media.