These are unprecedented times for the global economy, but as I work in fashion I wanted to shine the spotlight on this particular sector. The Bangladeshi and Garment Exporters Association estimates that more than 1 million Bangladeshi garment workers have gone unpaid following the cancellation of over £2.4billon work of orders from the likes of Matalan and Primark, amongst others. This equated to a staggering 864million units of clothing.
This is an extremely challenging times for all retailers, with store closures and disruption to the global supply chain hitting fashion brands hard. I wanted to take a look at how fashion brands are reacting to this crisis, albeit still in it's early stages.
With the prevalence of social media during this pandemic, fashion retailers who have received heavy negative criticism for their handling of the current situation (premature job cuts, withholding payments from suppliers, trying to keep bricks and mortar stores open against government advise) will most likely suffer in the long run - as post-coronavirus consumers will remember those who did and didn't look after their staff and suppliers. We all understand the natural instinct to 'fight for survival' but when this comes at a cost to the wider supply chain, you have to question the company's basic moral and ethical principles.
New Look CEO, Nigel Oddy, announced that with immediate effect on 3rd April all Spring/Summer orders were cancelled. Any goods still in production, and/or not yet loaded onto a vessel were cancelled and would not be paid for. Any outstanding payments for goods already in transit would be delayed indefinitely.
Sport Directs' owner Mike Ashley vowed to defy government orders to close all 'non-essential' shops by stating he intended to keep all Sports Direct shops open. As you can imagine, this decision went down like a led balloon with consumers and Ashley bowed to pressure and shut his stores.
Arcadia boss Philip Green angered the public with his plea for taxpayers to bail out his rapidly declining fashion empire...but we all remember the BHS pension debacle and how he dodges taxes by residing in Monaco.
New Look CEO, Nigel Oddy, announced that with immediate effect on 3rd April all Spring/Summer orders were cancelled. Any goods still in production, and/or not yet loaded onto a vessel were cancelled and would not be paid for. Any outstanding payments for goods already in transit would be delayed indefinitely.
Sport Directs' owner Mike Ashley vowed to defy government orders to close all 'non-essential' shops by stating he intended to keep all Sports Direct shops open. As you can imagine, this decision went down like a led balloon with consumers and Ashley bowed to pressure and shut his stores.
Arcadia boss Philip Green angered the public with his plea for taxpayers to bail out his rapidly declining fashion empire...but we all remember the BHS pension debacle and how he dodges taxes by residing in Monaco.
But now time to shine a light on those brands who, rightly so, deserve positive recognition. These brands have stepped up to the mark, all in their own way to support the relief effort/helping frontline workers:
The Good Guys
The Good Guys
Christian Siriano - When New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sent out a plea for clothing designers and manufactures to make masks, Christian Siriano stepped up to the mark. Initially his team were working from home, but due to limited resources could only make 50 masks per day. Siriano reached out to Governor Cuomo to seek permission to re-open his atelier as an 'essential' business in order to increase production. Cuomo agreed and now Siriano has distributed 1000's of FDA approved masks to state hospitals in the New York area. Christian Siriano I salute you!
Burberry - The British heritage brand has repurposed it's Castleford factory and is now making non-surgical gowns and masks for NHS patients. Burberry is also funding research into a vaccine being developed at the University of Oxford.
Gucci - Provided 1.1million surgical masks and 55,000 medical overalls. Given the World Health Organisation control of it's social media channels to increase outreach of public service information.
H&M - $500,000 donation made to the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund. In addition, H&M are utilising it's supply chain to produce PPE.
Pyer Moss - Formed a network called 'Your Friends in New York' and set aside $50,000 to obtain masks and medical supplies. Also providing financial aid to small minority and women-led businesses.
Georgia Hardinge - 50% of profits from the brand's sustainable 'Dazed' dresses will be donated to Age UK, for a 2 month period.
Ralph Lauren - Donated $10m to help in the fight against Covid-19 and is producing 250,000 masks and 25,000 gowns. Also donated an undisclosed amount to the CFDA/Vogue fashion fund to help designers hit by the current economic situation.
Rails - The LA based brand is halting production of it's current collection, in order to produce masks which can be distributed to local communities. Also donating a percentage of profits to the No 'Kid Hungry' campaign.
Cos - Partnered with Baby2Baby to donate 2.5million essential items to the most vulnerable families.
Mango - Donated 2million masks.
Tods - Donated £5million to help the families of those who have lost loved ones to Covid-19.
Inditex Group - 13 of it's factories in Spain are making medical gowns and masks.
Fashion Institute of Technology - The New York college has launched 'Sew4Lives' and is encouraging students to make medical grade masks for health workers and non-medical masks for other employee's of other essential businesses.
Fabletics - Donating $5 from the sale of each items to WHO's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
Fast Retailing - The owners of Uniqlo and J Brand, donated over 10million face masks to a number of countries and states. This included 1million being distributed in New York state and 1 million in Japan.
Revolve - Using it's global network of influencers to acquire 1million masks.
Marks and Spencer - Pledged to donate thousands of care packages to coronavirus patients admitted to the new Nightingale hospital in London. Individual store branches are donating surplus food to local food banks.
Nordstrom - Partnered with Kass Tailoring to provide Providence Health with 100,000 masks.
Prada - Financing the intensive care units of three new hospitals in Milan. Producing 80,000 medical overalls and 110,000 masks.
Kering - Donated to the relief effort buy importing 3million masks for healthcare workers in France.
Calzedonia Group - The Italian conglomerate has committed to making 10,000 masks a day.
Kate Spade - Pledged $100,000 to Crisis Text Line, an organisation providing counselling for doctors and nurses.
Net-A-Porter - Volunteered vans from it's delivery fleet to the charity Age UK, to delivery essentail supplies to those in need.
Armani - All of Armani's Italian factories are now making single-use medical overalls.
Chanel - Producing protective face masks for use across France.
Versace - A personal donation of 200,00Euro's to ICU at San Raffaele Hospital in Milan, and a 400,000Euro donation from the brand itself. In February, the fashion house donated a substantial sum to the Chinese Red Cross.
Michael Kors - $2million donation spilt between hospitals and charities.
Havaianas - The Brazilian brand is producing PPE, as well as distributing food and hygiene products to the most vulnerable communities.
L.L.Beans - The American outerwear brand is manufacturing 10,000 masks daily.
Jimmy Choo - Pledged £500,000, including £250,000 to the NHS.
Alejandra Alonso Rojas - Donating 30% of all sales, until 30th May, to God's Love Will Deliver and No Kids Hungry - two charities that provide meals for those in need.
Sandro - Producing 10,000 non-medical masks, made from excess fabric. Created a charity t-shirt for sale online, with 100% of proceeds going to the Red Cross.
Nanushka - The Hungarian brand is distributing 12,000 medical grade masks which it secured from a Chinese supplier. It's atelier will also produce 2,000 masks for the general public.
Saks Fifth Avenue - Pledged $600,000 to various organisations that support Covid-19 relief efforts.
AG - The denim brand is donating $1million to the LA County Response Fund.
Baukjen - Offering 40% off for all key workers
Mayhoola - The parent company of Valentino and Balmain will donate 1million Euro's the the Sacco Hospital in Milan.
Paige - The LA-based denim brand are donating 20% of all sales to 'St. Vincent Meals on Wheels'.
Bulgari - Producing 100,000 hand sanitizer bottles.
La Perla - Donated 10,000 masks to the Muncipality of Bologna.
Boden - Providing nightwear and clothing, via the Helpforce charity, to NHS staff who can't return home at present.
Geox - The presidents of the brand have donated 1million Euro's to health services in the Veneto region of Italy.
Anine Bing - Producing 10,000 masks.
Moncler - The brand is donating 10million Euro's to support a project in Lombardy, for the construction of a hospital with over 400 intensive care units
Brooks Brothers - The brands' New York, Massachusetts and North Carolina factories are now making 150,000 medical gowns and masks.
LVMH - Transformed its perfume factories into manufacturing centre's for hand sanitiser. Also supplying France with 40million masks.
Dior - Re-opened one of its studios, and is now producing masks.
Kurt Geiger - Donating 55 x £100 gift cards to every hospital in the UK and Ireland where Kurt Geiger have stores. In addition NHS employees will receive 50% discount for a full year, once stores reopen.
By Rotation - The rental service is giving £50 store credit to all NHS workers to use once the pandemic is over.
Crocs - Donating a free pair of Crocs to healthcare workers in the USA
Phillippa x
Twitter - @phillippa22
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