Luxury conglomerates LVMH and Kering are stepping up in their efforts of alleviating coronavirus-related shortages. The two biggest parent organizations in the fashion industry have pledged to provide around 40 million surgical masks to France, one of the many countries currently running low on medical supplies. 

By virtue of its global distribution network, LVMH has already managed to source 10 million masks that are now due to arrive from a Chinese industrial supplier shortly. The order is to be repeated in similar quantities for at least the next four weeks. In addition to aiding in surgical mask shortages, the French conglomerate is using some of its perfume facilities to produce its own hand sanitizer, which has been distributed daily to health authorities since last Monday.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B97FXEMieWG/

The Paris-based Kering Group, a parent company to the likes of Gucci, Saint Laurent and Balenciaga, is also set to provide the French health service with three million surgical face masks sourced from China. Saint Laurent and Balenciaga are slated to manufacture their own face masks for France, while Gucci will produce and donate over one million masks and 55,000 medical overalls to Italy.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-DKwIzIJdj/

Many other fashion labels and celebrities are making donations to the hospitals and individuals around the world who are severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last week, Kim Kardashian’s brand SKIMS has promised to donate 20 % of its profits, while Nike and Kanye West have pledged to make their contributions in forms of money and food respectively.