Businesses across the U.S. are gearing up to meet the needs of health care workers and individuals in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic by producing protective gear. According to federal watchdog reports, U.S. hospitals have shortages of protective equipment including masks, gloves, and ventilators for patients sick with COVID-19.
Reformation, a women’s fashion brand, recently pivoted its production lines to create masks after the company’s factory in Los Angeles was temporarily shut down due to the city’s stay-at-home order. Reformation partnered with the city of Los Angeles, Mayor Eric Garcetti, and LA Protects to produce the masks.
LA Protects is a new initiative created to organize local manufacturers in Los Angeles to create non-medical masks for individuals to keep Americans safe. The goal of the initiative is to produce over 100,000 masks per week.
“Using our relationships to mobilize other garment and apparel manufacturers to [produce protective gear] felt like a small but important way Reformation could contribute,” said Yael Aflalo, co-founder and CEO of Reformation. “It’s important that we take care of each other right now.”
Several companies have been going out of business because of their inability to maintain production because of city-wide shutdowns. According to a bank study, about 82% of businesses that fail, fail because of cash flow problems while 50% of companies deal with contract disputes.
Other businesses are unable to properly operate because of an inability to virtually manage employees. Drug testing is still one of the only ways employers are certain that employees are sober when they’re on the job.
Mask production is currently one of the best possible opportunities struggling businesses have right now.
“I ask businesses to think about the situation we’re in and the possible opportunity,” said New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo in a coronavirus update. “If you can do it, it’s a business opportunity, it’s a state need, it’s a national need. We’re not asking for a favor; we’ll finance what you need in terms of transitioning, and we’ll buy the product, and I will pay a premium, because we need it.”
Nick Nikkhah and Fabian Conde, the co-founders of 3-D printing company 3DHQ, have also been stepping up to meet medical needs. Nikkhah and Conde reached out to local hospitals and offered 3-D printed parts for medical devices.
Instead, the company was asked to create masks instead. Answering hospitals’ needs, Nikkhah and Conde have been producing reusable filtration masks made from durable PETG and PLA types of plastics.
Reformation plans to make 25,000 masks per week, selling a pack of five for approximately $25. Customers will also be able to buy masks to donate to medical patients, non-medical staff, and workers in essential sectors in Los Angeles.
“Producing masks is just one way the Los Angeles community is rallying around these important individuals, who need and deserve all the help we can give them as they try to remain safe and healthy,” said Aflalo.
