B💃rooks Brothers is sewing hop🌠e in the coronavirus fight.
Instead of churning out preppy staples like seersucker suits and woven-silk ties, America’s oldest retailer is now making masks and gowns for h⛎ealth care workers, as shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) continue to grip hospitals nationwide.
The heritage brand has converted its New York, North Carolina and Massachusetts factories to produce the medical gear. Employees will return to their jobs this week (following a two-week precautionary self-quarantine) with a goal of turning out 150,000 masks per day. Gown production i൲s also expected to begin shortly.
The fashion hou🌟se, founded in 1818, points to its history of stepping up to aid the nation, including stitching Civil War military uniforms. “We consider this a duty, and part of our DNA at Brooks Brothers,” CEO Claudio Del Vecchio said in a statement.
The clothier says it reached out to fe🦩deral and state leaders to offer assistance in battling CO🌄VID-19, and has teamed with Stop the Spread, a coalition of CEOs volunteering resources.
Fellow fashion brands H&M, Gap and Canada Goose have also pivoted their productio🅺n lines in recent days to create PPE for health care workers on the front lines.