In our latest update on how brands are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re sharing details from Ermenegildo Zegna, Nanushka, Bjarke Ingels Group, and more.
Ermenegildo Zegna and The Zegna Group have announced a portion of its facilities in Switzerland and Italy are being converted into manufacturing factilities—creating medical masks and protective suits for healthcare workers. In addition to contributing to several hospitals, the Zegna family has donated over €3M to Italy’s Civil Protection organization.
Photo by Francesco Mion, courtesy of Joia.
Fashion house Nanushka has donated 12,000 masks to its native country of Hungary. Additionally, the brand’s atelier is producing non-medical grade masks from its own deadstock fabric. The machine-washable, double-pocket masks will be automatically included in online orders—from Nanushka.com and Farfetch.com—and will be distributed to organizations in need.
Architecture and design firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) is creating medical face shields. Under the care of Bernardo Schuhmacher and Carlos Castillo, BIG will produce around 5,000 shields a week through 3-D production techniques (originally learned from Erik Cederberg’s free file for a design of the 3DVerkstan-designed visor), which will go to medical workers at New York’s Mount Sinai Health Centers and Weill Cornell Medicine. The firm’s locations in London and Copenhagen will follow, and the brand is encouraging anyone with access to 3-D printers to follow Cederberg’s instruction and join in on the production efforts.
Courtesy of Giacomo Argenario.
Art collective ILYSM has launched the #ILYSM4ARTISTS grant to aid creatives impacted by the COVID-19 shutdowns. Open for online submission every week through May 14, the $500 grant will be awarded to a new artist weekly—chosen by art world figures like Casey Fremont and Laurie Simmons.
For the next 30 days, UK-based fashion brand Self-Portrait has pledged 10 percent of all online sales to the National Emergencies Trust. In addition to providing financial assistance to those most affected by the pandemic, the brand also released a free digital coloring book for families and children as they homeschool for the remainder of the school year.
Courtesy of Langosteria.
Eyewear brand MOSCOT is providing support to medical professionals by offering them free glasses. Starting today, healthcare workers are eligible to apply or nominate someone via an online application. Those chosen will receive a pair of handcrafted eyewear—either prescription or non-prescription—with an additional layer of protection meant to reduce exposure to air- and fluid-borne particles and pathogens.
New York-based fitness brand Box + Flow is inviting viewers worldwide to take part in free workouts streamed via Instagram Live. Encouraging followers to find inspiration in “flowing through the fight” during extended days spent at home, the brand invites everyone to tune in daily at 11 a.m. or 5 p.m. EST. The 35-minute workouts incorporate high intensity boxing moves, end with a quick vinyasa flow, and are designed to be completed with no equipment and from the comfort of your living room.
TAO Hospitality Group—operating brands like TAO, Beauty & Essex, and Marquee—created the TAO Cares Relief Fund for the company’s employees and community. The nonprofit will disperse collected funds to its employees in need, with TAO group matching donations up to $400,000.
Only The Brave Group (OTB) is donating 10 percent of all online sales—encompassing brands like Diesel, Maison Margiela, and Marni—to the OTB Foundation. The foundation will then distribute the funds to help acquire protective and preventative medical equipment, as well as to convert hospital wards into specialty wards for COVID-19 patients at small and lesser-known hospitals.
