As the respiratory disease Covid-19 brings the world to a standstill, with (at the time of writing) more than 460,000 global cases of the virus and more than 20,000 deaths, the World Health Organization has yet to discover a vaccine.

Despite the fashion industry taking a noticeable hit, with every store shut here in the UK and a similar story happening in other major cities across the globe, major donors from all over the world are doing their bit to help fund the fight against the virus, including some of the biggest household fashion and grooming brands.

Yesterday the Armani group, which includes Emporio and Giorgio, announced that all of its manufacturing plants will switch from luxury goods creation to making single-use medical overalls. This follows on from Giorgio Armani's initial donation of €2 million to the National Civil Protection Department and the Luigi Sacco, San Raffaele and Istituto Dei Tumori hospitals in Milan and Istituto Spallanzani in Rome, as well as donating to hospitals in the Tuscany region.

Meanwhile Gucci is donating €2m in support of two crowdfunding campaigns – one in Italy (for the Italian Civil Protection Department) and the other one at a global level – to fight the Covid-19 pandemic. Utilising its huge social following (the Florentine brand has 40m followers on Instagram alone), Gucci is calling on its worldwide community to donate to the Solidarity Response Fund for WHO, which will be matched by Facebook.

Alessandro Michele, creative director of Gucci, said of the move, “This pandemic calls us to an unexpected task, but it is a call to which we respond decisively, advocating the selfless work carried out by health workers, doctors and nurses on the front lines every day in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic.”

Elsewhere Prada has donated two complete intensive care and resuscitation units to Milan's hospitals and – in addition – the Prada group has started the production of 80,000 medical overalls and 110,000 masks to be allocated to healthcare personnel, which are being made at the Prada factory in Montone.

Bottega Veneta announces its support for scientific research in Italy following the spread of Coronavirus. Funding for two-year scholarships across Veneto, Lazio and Campania will contribute to research and the support of Italian medical staff, from the current pandemic and beyond. Equal to €300,000, Veneta's contribution will fund a two-year extension for an employed pneumology researcher in the Department of Cardiac, Thoracic, Vascular Sciences and Public Health of the University of Padua and two respective scholarships at the Virology Laboratory of the National Institute for Infectious Diseases Lazzaro Spallanzani in Rome as well as the Microbiology and Virology Laboratory of the Hospital Domenico Cotugno of Naples.

Another Italian brand helping in the fight against the pandemic is Dolce & Gabbana. Stefano Gabbana and Domenico Dolce, the pair behind the brand, are providing funding to a study by Professor Alberto Mantovani, scientific director of the Istituto Clinico Humanitas and emeritus professor of pathology at Humanitas University in Milan, which aims to form the basis for developing diagnostic tools, such as biomarkers of the severity of the pathology and therapeutic initiatives to help battle this strain of coronavirus. They explained: “In the face of these tragedies of such a vast scale, each action may seem insignificant. But… we understood that in any case it was worth doing something.”

The Della Valle Family, of which Diego Della Valle is the chairman of Tods, has allocated the sum of 5 million Euros to support the family members of health personnel who lost their lives in the fight against Covid-19. The administration of the fund, to which anyone can donate will be entrusted to the Protezione Civile, and will be called Sempre con Voi.

Salvatore Ferragamo is supporting the call to action made by the Tuscany Region by manufacturing and donating 100,000 TNT anti-bacterial masks, 50,000 units of hand sanitiser and 3,000 FPP1 masks to local healthcare units, while La Perla is donating 10,000 masks to Bologna.

Malone Souliers has made the decision to donate 20 per cent of all full price e-commerce sales throughout the month of May to the two charities. The first one is Médecins Sans Frontières, an international, independent medical humanitarian organisation, currently providing assistance worldwide to people affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The second one is The Disaster Recovery Network by Global Giving, focusing on The Coronavirus Relief Fund, which provides long-term relief and recovery in vulnerable communities during one of the most challenging times we have collectively faced.

https://www.msf.org.uk/

https://www.globalgiving.org

And one month after announcing it has made a donation to the Spallanzani Hospital to acquire a new state-of-the-art 3-D high-definition microscope, jewellery and watch brand Bulgari has decided to manufacture, in partnership with its historical fragrances partner, ICR (Industrie Cosmetiche Riunite), hundreds of thousands of hand gel bottles to be supplied to all medical facilities through the Italian Civil Protection Department.

Bulgari is owned by the LVMH Group, which announced last week a similar support to French Health Authorities, manufacturing in its perfume and cosmetics laboratories used by Dior, Guerlain and Givenchy around 50 tonnes of sanitising gel per week to be used in French hospitals. The group has also placed an order of masks to a Chinese supplier and the first 10m will be distributed in France this week, with more to be delivered to Italy and Spain.

Bulgari has also been working with Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to organise a donation of over 160,000 units of the hand sanitising gel (produced in our fragrance manufacture) to be distributed in the UK and supplied to the NHS from the beginning of May. Bulgari started its donation activities in Italy and Switzerland.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Sandro has launched the Sandro Takes Care initiative, which is working across Europe and the USA to provide breakfast to hospital staff in a number of key affected cities and are also helping to produce non-surgical safety masks to hospital staff. As well as this the French brand will be launching two T-shirts, with 100 per cent of profits made from sales going to the Red Cross.

Valentino, Balmain and Pal Zileri's parent company, Mayhoola, is supporting two different projects related to the emergency situation that Italy is currently facing. First it is supporting the Intensive Care Treatment Unit (ICU) at Sacco Hospital in Milan and secondly it is donating €1m in order to entirely cover all expenses related to one of the many urgencies that the Lombardy Health Care System is facing. The company has also donated an additional €1 million to the cause in Spain.

The Canali Group has donated €200,000 to the San Gerardo Hospital in Monza through the brand’s Fondazione Canali Onlus. Founded by the Canali family in 2013, Fondazione Canali Onlus is a nonprofit, socially responsible entity based on the family’s own human and social values.

Over the Alps, German super brand Hugo Boss has dedicated its clothing production site at its global headquarters in Metzingen to the manufacture of face masks, which will be donated to public facilities. In the coming weeks, the German brand will manufacture 180,000 masks. Hugo Boss will also be donating to the National Emergencies Trust fundraising appeal which is run by the British Red Cross. The campaign distributes financial aid to local charities and grass roots organisations that are helping communities and individuals that are most vulnerable during this unprecedented time.

And across the Atlantic, the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation, formerly known as the Polo Ralph Lauren Foundation, is committing $10m to help those impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. “We believe that no matter who you are or where you are from, we are all connected," explained Ralph Lauren.

"That is why we are taking significant action to help our teams and communities through this crisis.” The donation will provide financial grants through the Emergency Assistance Foundation for Ralph Lauren for the elderly and those who seek childcare funding. In addition RL has announce the production of 250,000 masks and 25,000 isolation gowns with its American manufacturing partners.

As well as this RL has launched a donation and fundraising initiative in support of The Royal Marsden and other programs in support of NHS frontline workers. This will enable the charity to purchase a specialist machine to test for COVID-19. The virus presents an especially challenging risk for people with cancer, who are often immunocompromised as a result of their treatment. On-site testing will enable The Royal Marsden to find out sooner whether patients have the virus or not and ensure they are cared for in the appropriate environment, to avoid further transmission.

Also in America New Balance has developed and is currently scaling production of a general-use face mask as urgent demand for personal protective equipment. Developed in consultation with local medical and R&D institutions, New Balance produced its first face mask prototype less than a week ago. By mid-April, the goal is to make up to 100,000 units weekly at its Lawrence, Massachusetts and Norridgewock, Maine factories combined.

Rag & Bone has launched limited edition masks. Available exclusively in limited quantities for every mask purchased $5 will be donated to City Harvest. As New York City’s largest food rescue organisation, City Harvest helps feed New Yorkers who are struggling to put meals on their tables. For every $5 donated, City Harvest will be able to help feed 18 New Yorkers in need. A portion of proceeds will also benefit local workers in New York and Los Angeles in the continued manufacturing of non-medical masks

Available exclusively in limited quantities on rag-bone.com, for every mask purchased $5 will be donated to City Harvest. As New York City’s largest food rescue organization, City Harvest helps feed New Yorkers who are struggling to put meals on their tables. For every $5 donated, City Harvest will be able to help feed 18 New Yorkers in need. A portion of proceeds will also benefit local workers in New York and Los Angeles in the continued manufacturing of non-medical masks

Brooks Brothers, America’s oldest retailer, has announced its response to the urgent call from the White House for medical supplies. The company is in the process of converting its New York, North Carolina and Massachusetts factories from manufacturing ties, shirts and suits to now making masks and gowns. Brooks Brothers plans to use these facilities to produce up to 150,000 masks per day on an ongoing basis, to help increase access to protective gear for health care workers and others battling the spread of COVID-19 at the nation’s hospitals and other facilities.

Chip Bergh, President & CEO of Levi Strauss & Co has announced a commitment of $3 million to Covid-19 relief efforts, with a focus on employees, community partners and supply chain workers. The Levi Strauss Foundation will play a vital role in protecting some of the most vulnerable in the wake of the global pandemic, while the Red Tab Foundation will provide support to Levi's workers.

The H&M Group, which owns Weekday, Arket and & Other Stories, as well as its own brand, is supplying protective equipment for hospitals, utilising its global supply chain capacity. Moreover, Enrico and Mario Moretti Polegato, presidents of Diadora and Geox, donated €1m to the Veneto Region to help manage the health emergency caused by coronavirus, and Saint James, the brand famous for its Breton stripes, has shifted its activity to produce protective masks for health institutions.

Since mid-March, nearly a hundred employees from Lacoste's French factories (Gayettes in Troyes, the birthplace of the company - SNPP and Vaucouleurs) have volunteered to work on the manufacturing of 145,000 washable and reusable masks until 31 April. Part of these masks are intended to supply local shopkeepers and enable them to protect themselves in their daily life and another part will be made available to the French government in the fight against Covid 19.

American fashion brand Revolve is donating 10,000 N95 FDA hospital approved face masks to two hospitals in Los Angeles that need support with protective equipment, while John Lewis & Partners has created a £1 million Community Support Fund to support local communities and offered protected shopping hours for the elderly and vulnerable.

Moscot is providing free eyewear to Covid-19 front line medical personnel all over the US, which you can get via the website.

Elsewhere L'Occitane has donated more than 10,000 hand creams to NHS and HSE staff across the UK and Ireland. The French brand has decided to reassign some of its facilities to manufacture 70,000 litres of hand sanitiser, which will be donated to the health authorities in France.

111skin is creating its own hand creams to help NHS workers, a product that’s not in our usual production, as well as distributing its Y Theorem Day Creams to help deal with the irritation from the masks.

Acqua Di Parma will support the fight against Covid-19 by donating a huge proportion of its sales. Throughout the month of April, 100 per cent of e-commerce revenues generated by sales of the Home Collection, Barbiere and Personal Care products will be donated to support initiatives against the corona crisis.

Another grooming brand getting involved is Bulldog Skincare, which is providing free care packages for NHS workers. Consisting of Bulldog’s Original Bamboo Razor, Original Shave Gel, Original Moisturiser and Original Bar Soap, the London-based brand is offering NHS staff the package through its website.

As the fashion industry has been so roundly hit by the impact of the virus – with production interrupted and retail all but stopped, Vogue's editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, along with Tom Ford, chairman of the Council Of Fashion Designers Of America (CFDA), have launched a new initiative, “A Common Thread”, which will help members of the American fashion community who have been impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. As well as offer funding for those affected, the initiative will include a video series telling the stories of both designers and those working behind the scenes, whose businesses have been hurt by the pandemic.

Louis Vuitton has launched the production of hundreds of thousands of non-surgical protective masks, re-purposing its French workshops in Marsaz and Saint-Donat (Drôme), Saint-Pourçain (Allier), Ducey (Manche) and Sainte-Florence (Vendée), where three hundred artisans are mobilised in response to the French government’s plea for the increased production of alternative non-surgical masks to aid in the battle against Covid-19. LV has also converted its American workshops to make face masks for health-care workers.

And closer to home the British Fashion Council has launched the BFC Foundation Covid Crisis Fund, which will make £1m of emergency funds available for designer businesses, with a portion of funds allocated to fashion students. This is possible thanks to grants from the BFC/Vogue Designer Fashion Fund, BFC/GQ Designer Menswear Fund supported by JD.com, the BFC Fashion Trust and BFC NewGen.

As a British brand that has endured some of history’s most testing times, Turnbull & Asser understand the importance of serving a nation, and is determined to make a positive contribution to the cause. In support of those on the frontline, the Royal Warrant holding shirtmakers are now in the process of producing thousands of much-needed garments for the NHS, proudly made in England. A dedicated team of Turnbull machinists and management have stepped up to serve those who serve our country; creating Scrubs for those on the frontline.

Meanwhile Burberry has announced that it is dedicating its resources to support those impacted by the disease and prevent further infection. It is retooling its trench coat factory in Castleford, Yorkshire, to make non-surgical gowns and masks for patients, and is utilising its global supply chain network to fast-track the delivery of over 100,000 surgical masks to the NHS.

To help support the valiant effort of our NHS front line workers the team at Mackintosh's Nelson factory, has given over production to creating nurses uniforms. Those working have volunteered in order to produce these uniforms whilst maintaining all guidelines on social distancing.

Phillips Perpetual is pleased to announce that it will donate all proceeds from the sale of The Armoury's City Hunter 2 jackets to the WHO COVID-Solidarity Response Fund. Designed and made in Japan specifically for this sale, a limited edition of 25 jackets will be made available to purchase through Phillips’ Perpetual on 3 April 2020.

Kurt Geiger has pledged to give £5 million worth of shoes and bags to NHS in the coming months, with £100,000 worth of shoes and bags already given to NHS workers in the last week.

Scottish knitwear brand Begg & Co will be donating all of the profits from three of their most iconic blue products to NHS charities. There are more than 250 NHS charities across the UK and most of them focus on helping our hospitals do more. Collectively these charities give £1 million every day to the NHS. The Begg & Co products include the timeless Wispy Harbour scarf, specially created using 100 per cent micron cashmere, the Arran Blue Jay, which was first developed by Begg & Co in the 1970s, and the Kishorn Electric Blue scarf, made from delicately woven micron cashmere.

Midlands-based Sunspel is making laundry bags from old fabric for the frontline NHS staff at Queen’s hospital in Nottingham so they can put their uniforms in them at the end of their shifts and then put these directly into washing machines, killing the virus immediately rather than taking uniforms out at home. They are making 400 bags with a drawstring top. Sunspel will also be producing 500 masks from a woven fabric that will be sent directly to key food suppliers and vendors.

Isabel Ettedgui owner of Connolly has begun a new initiative called “Love my old Connolly”, whish will see a special selection of discounted archive pieces sold. Starting this month, and for the next four weeks, all profits from this sale will be donated to a charity of its choice - Covid Smart. Then each season thebrand will be choosing a charity to support through Love My Old Connolly. Covid Smart a not for profit organisation was set up by three women who have first hand knowledge and experience of the front line. Covid Smart presents the scientific research and facts in an accessible way, contributing to research projects in Oxford, and donating its proceeds from testing and donations, to help key workers’ needs in immediate, practical, grass root ways.

Footwear brand Crocs has donated over 200,000 pairs of shoes to hospitals globally to support frontline healthcare workers during the Covid-19 crisis. The first donation in the UK arrived with the NHS last week, with additional pairs earmarked for distribution across NHS hospitals nationwide. Crocs is providing its iconic shoes that are easy to clean, lightweight and provide all-day comfort. Additionally, Crocs is now inviting its online customers to join in further supporting healthcare workers either by giving £10 with a purchase of Classic Clogs or by simply contributing £10 to give the gift of Crocs footwear to a healthcare worker.

Spanish brand Loewe, which is headed up by British designer Jonathan Anderson, aims to help in the fight agains COVID 19, by donating through the sales of its Paula's Boutique collection. To ensure a better future for children in socially vulnerable groups affected by the virus, it will be donating 40 euros to educational projects for every fashion product sold between May and August 2020, starting with an initial donation of 500,000 euros.

The Kooples hosted an online live auction of some design pieces originally found in some of its flagship stores around the world, or housed in recent years in the Hôtel Particulier, the brand's Parisian headquarters. The online event was set Hôtel Drout House, a leading auction house established in Paris in 1852 (drouot.com) and a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to Fondation des Hôpitaux de France.

Augustinus Bader, the brand favoured by celebrities such as Victoria Beckham, is donating 60,000 hand sanitisers globally. The first 20,000 AB Hand Sanitizers will be shipped to front line heroes, while the rest you can sign up to receive here.

Turns out fashion does care, after all.

Watch this space for more updates from fashion’s fight against the coronavirus as they happen.

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