Fashion takes Action
It’s back to work for those in the business of fashion, but to address the shortage of PPEs
One of the biggest dilemmas in the fight against COVID-19 was the shortage of PPEs. The demand far exceeded the supply, heightening the risks that health workers all over the world already faced— and the need would only grow with the increasing number of high-risk patients requiring treatment. To help, members of the Filipino fashion design community stepped up to the plate, harnessing their talents and resources to help equip our front liners with urgently needed gear.
“My friend Cynthia Diaz posted on Facebook that she had a supply of cloth that she wanted to use to make PPEs,” said designer and activist Mich Dulce, who spearheaded this initiative. “I then reached out to friends in the medical field to ask if they could loan me a PPE suit so I could draft a pattern, but, understandably, there was none they could spare. This led me to Vice President Leni Robredo’s office. My sewers were able to reverse engineer the sample she lent.” Taking into account that this was a global crisis, Dulce decided to digitise the pattern and guidelines, making the collated information available for free online. This effort led to the founding of the Manila Protective Gear Sewing Club, which works in partnership with the OVP for distribution.
Her designer colleagues, too, rose to the occasion. Rajo Laurel sought approval for his team to work from his Makati factory, following stringent hygiene and social distancing protocols. “We are moved to do everything we can with the limited resourced we have to produce PPEs and hazmat suits for out frontliners,” he said. “Amidst all the challenges, we succeeded in creating samples to distribute to those who would also like to help in production.” Puey Quinones also stepped in to help, emphasising design execution, because the pattern must be followed precisely. RJ Santos, too, came in, donating masks made from fabric scraps. He also uploaded his pattern online as a reference. Patty Ang mobilised her in-house team of tailors and sewers, and sourced donations for appropriate materials through her social media channels, saying, “I am in awe of everyone’s generous spirit. We are ready to provide for as long as the need is there.”