Here’s How Fashion Is Lending A Hand In The Fight Against Coronavirus

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, Manolo Blahnik is giving online customers the option to donate a fixed amount at checkout to the Mental Health Foundation, with every donation matched like-for-like at the end of three months. It also plans to donate to the research project 'Mental Health: Coronavirus and the Pandemic', examining the mental health impact of the coronavirus on individuals and communities, and is starting a 'Smile' initiative on its social channel, with blank sketches of shoes that can be coloured in etc, to keep its followers uplifted.

Have you ever seen more smile-inducing scrubs? As part of the 'For The Love Of Scrubs' initiative, the Facebook group started by an A&E nurse, Borgo De Nor's founder, Carmen Borgonovo, collaborated with fashion editor Kendal Boyle to donate a selection of her signature prints for the Dundee District Nursing Covid-19 Response Team that were sewed into scrubs at the Glasgow School of Art.

As a passionate animal-owner, Perfect Moment's founder Jane Gottschalk is raising awareness for the protection of animals, an even more urgent cause during coronavirus, by asking followers to donate £5 that will be divided between Animals Asia, the Wild At Heart Foundation and the Dog's Trust's Freedom Project.

This week the YOOX NET- A-PORTER GROUP have launched a delivery service of care packages for NHS staff on the front line of the COVID-19 crisis. The packages have been delivered to the four London hospitals by the Group's Volunteered Vehicles - its Premier Delivery Service vans which have been supporting charity partners in delivering essentials to local communities.

Exhausted your lockdown entertainment ideas? Not just yet. Ralph Lauren's new Polo Project is the first-ever competition inviting fans to design their own polo, with 100% of the proceeds from the winning design will go to the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund. To enter, email your design to poloproject@ralphlauren.com by May 20, including a few words about your inspiration.

Luxury brand, 16 Arlington, are supporting frontline healthcare workers in Italy and the UK by donating 100% of the proceeds from their 'FORTE' t-shirt to the NHS and Protezione Civile Italiana, in a nod to the designers' dual British Italian heritage. The embellished t-shirt, inspired by Raffaella Carrà who was known for her zest for life, ultimately embodies unwavering heroism through the lines 'FORTE FORTE FORTE' literally translating to the powerful message 'Strength Strength Strength'

Pinko has donated 15 ventilation helmets for intensive care to the Vaio Hospital. In two weeks, the helmets have been sourced from abroad and imported to Italy, and an agreement has been made with Pinko, the Municipality and the team of Vaio doctors and Ausl specialists. Alongside this, the brand has also launched a series of 'Italia Ti Amo' T-shirts - with every purchase, Pinko buys six Coronavirus tests for people in need.

La Perla has donated 10,000 masks to frontline workers in its beloved hometown of Bologna. These vital masks have been distributed to support the employees of the Municipality of Bologna, care workers and to the vulnerable living in residential care homes. The luxury Italian brand has also announced it will donate 10% of all proceeds to the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund hosted by the United Nations Foundation and Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, in support of the World Health Organisation.

Since mid-March, nearly a hundred employees from Lacoste's French factories have volunteered to work on the manufacturing of 145,000 washable and reusable masks. These masks are for local shopkeepers and enable them to protect themselves in their daily life, and will also be made available to the French government in the fight against Covid-19.

Kurt Geiger have launched a new We Are One Tote bag with 100% profits going to 'NHS Charities Together'. They collaborated with the artist Anthony Burrill to create the rainbow image as a symbol of unity across the country. Kurt Geiger's aim is to raise £1 million by Christmas through the sale of these bags with all profits going directly to 'NHS Charities Together'. The tote bag is made from Fairtrade cotton and is being printed here in the UK and is available to buy at kurtgeiger.com #WEAREONE

To support doctors, nurses, patients and communities during the Covid-19 outbreak, Boden has collaborated with Helpforce, a charity that supports volunteering in the NHS. Offering a large volume of much needed clothing supplies, Boden has provided over £770,000 worth of clothing to 15 NHS trusts across the UK, made up of 16,000 items of nightwear and clothing, donated through Helpforce charity to NHS staff who are unable to return home at the end of hospital shifts and to recovered patients, unable to get clothing from their families in hospital due to the risk of infection.

Proudly supporting the NHS, ba&sh have created the I will hug you later Tee. Designed to be worn with pride, the t-shirt champions healthcare heroes - with 100% of all profits across UK sales to be donated to NHS Charities Together. The tee is available for both Women and Children, priced at £35.

As well as purchasing a 3D high-definition microscope for Rome's Spallanzani Hospital, Bulgari spent a month repurposing its fragrance production centre in the Lombardy region to produce hand sanitiser, which was donated and distributed to hospitals and medical facilities across both Italy and Switzerland. Now, the label has announced it will supply over 160,000 units of medical-grade hand sanitising gel to the UK which, according to Bulgari, 'will be supplied to the NHS at the beginning of May in 75ml recycled bottles, a format allowing medical staff to have the protecting gel with them in their pockets at all times.'

For every product sold in its Paula's Ibiza collection between May and August 2020, Loewe is donating 40 euros to educational projects in collaboration with Plataforma de Infancia, with an initial donation of 500,000 euros. This alliance of social organisations works to protect children's rights and will be launching a series of education programs this summer to reduce inequality and school dropouts. Loewe is also producing non-surgical masks in its Getafe factory to be distributed between volunteer workers, and Loewe workers and their families.

NINA, the sustainable brand that makes baby clothes from organic Peruvian Pima cotton, has launched an artwork initiative, The Motherhood Prints. It has collaborated with a string of artists, including Venetia Berry, Bella Franks and Seraphina Neville, to make a series of limited-edition prints inspired by motherhood. With 100% of profits going to NHS Charities Together, founders, Emily and Oliver Orlik, are encouraging shoppers to send a little something for the nursery walls to loved ones who are expecting in these strange times.

The French fashion house is producing hospital gowns in its atelier in Paris, which will be provided to frontline workers in six Parisian hospitals who are taking care of patients suffering from Covid-19. 20 volunteers are working to create thousands of gowns, which will act as part of medical officials' protective equipment.

Barbour is using its South Shield factory to produce gowns for medical staff in the North East, free of charge. Some of the proud recipients took to Twitter to voice their gratitude. Dr. Alice Wort, for example, said: 'Thank you @Barbour. You thoroughly deserve these royal crests. The quality of these new gowns is amazing. They mean so much to our staff. Proud of our British manufacturers. @QEGateshead.'

Making use of the production lines in its perfume and make-up factories, LVMH announced that it would produce and supply hydroalcoholic gels from yesterday. Normally the producer of cosmetics for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Dior and Givenchy, the factories would now not only manufacture the hand sanitising gel, but also aid in its free distribution amongst health professionals and local authorities in France. In a statement, the company has said 'LVMH will continue to honour this commitment for as long as necessary, in connection with the French health authorities.'

Kering has made a donation of about $144 Million donation to the Hubei Red Cross Foundation on behalf of all of its brands including Gucci, Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Bottega Veneta and Balenciaga. They're also currently in the process of preparing 3million surgical masks to France with Gucci preparing 1.1 million For Italy.

After a rise in fatalities in Italy, Prada has donated six intensive care units and three resuscitation units to three Milanese hospitals. The donation came personally from co-CEOs Miuccia Prada and Patrizio Bertelli, alongside chairman Carlo Mazzi. On the 18th March, Prada also started the production of 80'000 medical overalls, 110'000 masks and daily deliveries to healthcare professionals in Milan which are set to be completed by 6th April.

Giorgio Armani donated 1.25 million euros to both hospitals and institutions in Milan, battling the onset of the coronavirus pandemic.

Mother and daughter duo Donatella and Allegra Versace have donated just over £165,000 towards intensive care units at the San Raffaele hospital in Milan.

Influencer Chiara Ferragni managed to amass over four million euros to aid in the research, care and maintenance surrounding the Coronavirus in Milan. She'll also be hosting livstreamed concerts by the likes of Andrea Bocelli on Instagram Live.

Khaite announced that it would be donating $10,000 to the non-profit organisation Baby2Baby, which is providing essential items to children and families impacted by the pandemic. Additionally, for the next 30 days, the brand will donate 10% of khaite.com sales to Baby2Baby.

Phillip Lim has started an archive sale to help support all of the staff financially and with medical coverage, while also sending them home to keep both his employees and customers safe.

From the 14th to the 20th of March, 100% of all online sales will be donated to support the fight against the global pandemic. Alongside this, $100,000 was donated to local Milanese hospitals.

As well as turning his NYC studio into a donation centre for medical supplies, he has set aside $5000 to obtain these supplies alongside a further $50'000 for minority and women owned small creative businesses 'who are currently in distress. If you cannot make payroll or cannot cover pressing costs to keep your business afloat, please reach out, let us know what you do and how we can help'.

In an instagram post, Three Graces London revealed that 'For the next two full weeks, we're donating 100% percent of all threegraceslondon.com net sales to homeless charity Crisis, in support of their efforts to protect the homeless through the coronavirus outbreak.⁠'

A total of £5,000 was donated to The Trussell Trust and God's Love We Deliver, charities working hard to get food across the city to the most viewable at this time. On top of this, 10% of all sales will go towards the charity.

Moncler has donated 10 million euros towards the construction of a new hospital in the Lombardy region, the epicentre of Italy's coronavirus crisis, to urgently increase the region's ICU capacity.

Sézane has just launched its new Ceremony collection, of which it will be giving 10% of all proceeds to the emergency aid fund, set up for the Foundation of French hospitals.

20% of all commerce sales will be donated to the Trussell Trust, supporting food banks across the UK amidst the pandemic.

The British Fashion Council, alongside other designers and brands in the industry (Private White VC, Phoebe English) are coming together in a bid to help with the production of vital equipment and products using their currently available workspaces.

Paris Texas are supporting the San Gerardo Hospital in Monza, Italy, where they were founded. With the biggest problem being space and intensive care units, they pledged to support however they can.

In this difficult time, Stephen Webster has announced that he will be donating 10% of all total sales values for all of his online transactions. Donations will go to the chartity MIND, who focuses on offering advice and support with mental health.

Making use of its global supply chain, H&M will be aiding the manufacture of personal protective equipment, to be provided to hospitals and healthcare workers. In a press release they stated, 'H&M Group will utilize its supply chain capacity, including its widespread purchasing operations and logistics capabilities, in order to start delivering as soon as possible. The company's supply chain teams around the world are now collectively supporting in these initial efforts to support countries and communities worldwide.'

With 2020 marking 200 years since Florence Nightingale was born, John Smedley have launched a Florence Nightingale x John Smedley capsule collection, inspired by the great British nurse, her iconic blue and white hues and gold embroidery. 20% of all sales will be donated to Nightingale Nurses.

After restocking its most sought after cotton collection yesterday, Kim Kardashsian's Skims line pledged to donate 20% of all of the drops profits to Baby2Baby, a charity on the ground aiding in children, mothers and families impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic providing diapers, blankets, hygiene products and School supplies amongst other things.

The parent company of Valentino and Balmain, Mayhoola, has donated 2 million euros to combat the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. In a statement, Mayhoola said, 'We are very close to the Italian population and we are constantly monitoring the evolution of the pandemic in the country. We are pained to see what is happening in Milan and we strongly hope that this decisive action can help the doctors and their teams of Sacco Hospital.' It has also just announced a donation of 1 million euros to the French charity La Fondation Hôpitaux de Paris - Hôpitaux de France (FHP-HF) to support French caregivers and hospitals during the crisis, as well as 1 million euros towards the expansion of Madrid's emergency field hospital with the Madrid Exhibition Center.

The luxury Italian house announced that it will be collaborating with Italy's Humanitas University, donating funds to the research led by its professors Alberto Mantovani and Cecilia Garlanda alongside Elisa Vincenzi and Massimo Clementi, virologists at the San Raffaele University. Their research aims to find a solution to the growing pandemic. 'We felt we had to do something to fight this devastating virus. In these cases, it is important to make the right choice. This is why we thought Humanitas University would be the ideal partner. In the face of these tragedies [on] such a vast scale, each action may seem insignificant, but Professor Mantovani told us the African fable about a hummingbird. While all the other animals were fleeing from a fire in the forest, it flew in the opposite direction, continuing to bring water in the attempt to put out the fire. We understood that in any case it was worth doing something. Even a very small gesture can have enormous significance. Supporting scientific research is a moral duty for us, we hope our contribution will help to solve this problem.'

The designer famous for his Met Gala creations for Lady Gaga has been researching medical textiles to make personal protective equipment - so far producing gowns and mask covers - for doctors and nurses on the frontline. Brandon Maxwell also took to Instagram to announce that he'll be donating three weddings to brides in need. 'As a company who has been fortunate to play a small part in so many women's special days, we realize the current crisis and the economic repercussions from it may have already deeply affected you,' he posted.

Instead of fairytale gowns, Christian Siriano's team is now busy sewing hundreds of masks a day for the covid-19 relief effort. 'Powerful women right here! This is what Fashion is right now for us. Making hundreds of masks a day and that's what we can do to help. Thank you to my team for this and thank you to our friends who donated to help,' the designer posted on Instagram.

H&M Group, which owns high street chains such as H&M, COS, Arket and Weekday, is producing personal protective equipment for hospitals and healthcare workers. Anna Gedda, head of sustainability, says: 'The coronavirus is dramatically affecting each and every one of us, and H&M Group is, like many other organisations, trying our best to help in this extraordinary situation. We see this is as a first step in our efforts to support in any way we can. We are all in this together, and have to approach this as collectively as possible.'

The fashion pack's favourite hosiery company, Heist, is giving away 500 pairs of tights to NHS workers. All they have to is email support@heist-studios from their NHS address.

On the 12th March, DVF hosted a live-streamed charity event from its flagship store with all proceeds of it's 'Be Strong Wuhan, With Love From DVF' T-shirts, aiding the Dream foundation whose work is in sterilising educational equipment and schools in China. Now, they're giving back 10% of all sales of all orders to the World Health Organisation and the charity No Kid Hungry.

Ridley London's newly launched campaign alongside charity, 'Re-engage', is a way in which they've decided to help older people stay connected amidst isolation. Proceeds of their new sleepwear range will go towards telephone befriending programmes programmes. Prior to the quarantine, the charity engaged in social activities such as monthly tea-parties to tackle the widespread loneliness amongst our older population. Camilla Ridley, the Co-Founder and designer at Ridley London said, 'I was inspired to help by my 82 year old stepmother who brought me up, who lives alone and is at high risk so would have to completely self-isolate. She has come to live with me whilst the outbreak continues. It made me think about all the older people who don't have a family who can help, who are trapped at home with no one to talk to help them feel better'.

Via their Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation, 1 million euros will be donated to support the coronavirus combat. The money will aid the new Columbus Covid 2 Hospital in Rome, a new hospital set to be fully operational next week. In a statement, they said, 'Our deepest gratitude goes to those women and men who are fighting night and day to save human lives in our hospitals. We will never be thankful enough for the love and dedication they are demonstrating in such a dramatic moment.'

Hugo Boss have now dedicated their clothing manufacturing production line to the cause by producing face masks that will then be donated to public facilities. Blended from a cotton material, they can be washed and reused up to 50 times in nursing homes, fire departments and police.

15% of every purchase made on their online store will be donated to the Local Health Authority of Romagna and the Humanitas Clinical Institute of Milan - two organisations currently battling via daily research research studies and healthcare activities surrounding the coronavirus pandemic.

Philosophy di Lorenzo Serafini will be donating 15% of proceeds of each online order purchased via their website. Donations will be granted to the Local Health Authority of Romagna and the Humanitas Clinical Institute of Milan.

Gucci have made a 2 million euro donation both within Italy, its homeland, as well as on a worldwide level. 1 million has been donated to the Italian Civil Protection Department (Protezione Civile) and the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, in support of the World Health Organization. In a statement, Gucci Creative Director, Alessandro Michele, stated, 'This pandemic calls us to an unexpected task, but it is a call to which we respond decisively, advocating the selfless work carried out by health workers, doctors and nurses on the front lines every day in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, in Italy and in the rest of the world. Their generosity and courage light our way forward in these difficult days. By supporting each other and helping those who are most vulnerable among us, we will be able to overcome this crisis: united, even more than before.'

Sandro Veronesi, president of the Calzedonia Group, has converted a number of its production plants to be able to produce medical masks and gown in two Italian based plants as well as Croation plants. With a production capacity of 10'000 masks a day, the first delivery of masks were donated to The Hospital of Verona and City of Verona on March 23rd.

Sophia Webster have donated 200 pairs of their FlyBy Trainers to NHS workers on the frontline, nominated by friends and family on their instagram.

Burberry has just announced its four-pronged approach to tackling the coronavirus. As well as fast-tracking the delivery of over 100,000 surgical masks to the NHS and repurposing its Yorkshire factory to make non-surgical gowns and masks for patients, it's funding research into the University of Oxford's single-dose vaccine and donating to charities including FareShare and The Felix Project to help alleviate food poverty across the UK.

Net-a-Porter has closed distribution centres in London, but its delivery vans are still very in operation, supporting the charity Age UK by delivering care packages to the elderly and vulnerable.

Make It British, the organisation that has been supporting businesses that manufacture in the UK since 2011, and Fashion Roundtable, a body that advocates for sustainable growth for the entire industry in the global marketplace, are helping the country's textile industry produce PPE for frontline healthcare workers. Designers like Phoebe English, Bethany Williams and Holly Fulton, meanwhile, are producing non-frontline protective clothing with the Emergency Designer Network. Fashion Roundtable is also lobbying the government on behalf of the fashion industry, bringing issues such as salary protection for freelancers and self-employed workers into the spotlight.

Mackintosh, the British label who has been making trench coats since the industrial revolution, has stopped production at its factory in Nelson, Lancashire. Instead workers, who have volunteered themselves for the task, are now busy sewing NHS nurses uniforms.

Carolina Bucci, the Italian jeweller, is donating 25% of online sales to the Coronavirus Emergency Fund at Florence's Careggi Hospital. She's also started an initiative called 'Isolate & Create', a series of printable pages that can be coloured in and folded to make whimsical origami characters. Why not give it a go today?

The independent dress label, specialising in prairie frocks that will have you yearning for wide open plains, is donating 15% of every sale to Age UK Camden. The founders have even been putting together food parcels for the charity, who is delivering food and supplies to the borough's isolated and elderly.

The Della Valle Family, who own Tod's, has donated 5 million Euros, also on behalf of its employees, to support the family members of health personnel who lost their lives in the fight against coronavirus.

Jimmy Choo is launching a sketch competition on Instagram - #CHOOSketch. Followers simply submit designs of their dream shoes and creative director, Sandra Choi, will then shortlist the 10 best. From there, followers will vote for the top five designs, which will be made into a special capsule in aid of a charity within the Jimmy Choo Foundation.

The Scottish knitwear brand, Begg & Co, will be donating sales from three of its most iconic blue products to NHS Charities Together. It has also launched a space on its website called 'Our Comfort Blanket' which, like your favourite throw, is instantly soothing with its combination of meditation tips and author interviews for its virtual book club.

Midlands-based Sunspel is repurposing old fabrics to make 500 laundry bags for NHS staff, as well as 400 face masks for food vendors, at Queen's Hospital in Nottingham. The idea is simple: they put their uniforms straight in at the end of their shift and put the laundry bag directly into the washing machine at home, reducing the risk of spreading the virus.

Natasha Zinko x Duo is making face masks for CNS and City Sprint, London-based couriers, who are still on the ground doing deliveries. The designer has also created extra to sell, with 50% of profits going to NHS's Covid-19 Relief Fund.

De Beers Group is contributing $2,500,000 across Botswana and Namibia in response to the Covid-19 crisis. Its contribution in both countries will support governments and communities in their sourcing of medical supplies, logistical support, vulnerability assessment support plans, food security for vulnerable households, water supply to communities, education about Covid-19 and local clinical support.

The handbag label has launched an interactive social initiative called #AspinalHeroes, asking its followers to show appreciation to those at the frontline of the crisis by nominating theirs. Every week, Aspinal will be rewarding 100 #AspinalHeroes with a personalised surprise as a small gesture to say 'thank you'.

MOSCOT has partnered with Cherry Optical Labs to provide free eyewear to frontline US healthcare workers, the idea being that wearing glasses is a small step forwards to reducing exposure to airborne particles.

Crocs has donated more than 200,000 pairs of its comfortable and easy-to-clean shoes to hospital workers around the world. The brand is also giving online customers the opportunity to contribute £10 towards a pair for a healthcare professional - and is sending one pair of shoes for every contribution.

Mango has produced 13,000 gowns for healthcare workers in collaboration with the Pablo Horstmann Foundation, a non-profit that has acquired 30,000m of approved fabric, and will be distributing them among hospitals, nursing homes and centres for people with disabilities.

As well as partnering with the CFDA Foundation to donate 250,000 masks and 25,000 gowns in the US, Ralph Lauren has made a donation to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in the UK. This will help enable The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust to purchase a specialist machine to test for Covid-19, allowing the hospital to find out whether patients, immunocompromised as a result of treatment, have the virus so that they can be cared for in the appropriate environment and further transmission can be avoided.

As well as helping everyone at home keep fit and healthy with live-streamed workouts on its YouTube channel and a wealth of ideas online, Nike's innovation, manufacturing and product teams are partnering with Oregon Health & Science University to produce PPE equipment (full-face shields and powered air-purifying respirator lenses (PAPR)) to protect healthcare workers.

To support scientific research and medical professionals in Italy, Bottega Veneta is donating €300,000 to fund a two-year extension for an employed pneumology researcher at The University of Padua, as well as two scholarships at virology laboratories in Rome and Naples.

Together with leading figures from all walks of culture, business, politics and science, auctioneers Sotheby's and Google are launching an online auction of unique experiences which can be enjoyed virtually via Google Meet video calls in an online auction open for bidding from 1-8 May. These experiences include "coffee with Hilary Clinton", a "personal comedy session with Sacha Baron Cohen" a "space tutorial with Russell Schweickart", and a "Private convert with Sting". We've got our eye on the latest addition to the line-up - a personal beauty consultation with Charlotte Tilbury.

If all this time at home has got you wanting to start your own art collection, then you're in luck. Photographs for the Trussell Trust is an online fundraising sale featuring works by top photographers including Juergen Teller, Martin Parr and David Sims. All prints are available for £100 with 100% of the proceeds going towards the charity's work supporting the two thirds of the UK's food banks which have seen a 300% increase in demand since this time last year as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. Until 6th May.