Corona Crisis: The industry reacts so creatively

The Corona crisis presents all companies in the textile industry with completely new challenges. We have put together some creative solutions.

The German Retail Association (HDE) and the Research Institute for Retail EHI Retail have set up a placement platform for employees. Many retail companies currently have to send their employees on short-time working. Other companies, for example from food retailing or logistics, are looking for support in their stores or warehouses. ++++ The denim brand Levi’s would like to encourage its fans everywhere to support the creative industries, which urgently need help in these uncertain times. Every day at 17:01, Levi’s hosts a variety of sessions on social media, including music performances, style sessions, workshops and much more. ++++ The two start-ups BeWooden, a small German-Czech manufacturer of wooden accessories and the sock specialist Von Jungfeld and CustomySocks from Mannheim respectively, have thrown together their skills and combined production and sales of face masks. ++++ Numerous companies in the textile industry are changing their perspective in the face of closed shops and switching to the production of face masks for protection against COVID-19. These include Burberry, G-Star, Löffler, Gerry Weber and numerous designers. ++++ The PVH Foundation is providing $1 million for COVID-19 assistance, including a $100,000 donation to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund created by the UN Foundation and the Swiss Philanthropy Foundation, which will benefit the World Health Organization and other partners. ++++ The German Textile and Fashion Industry Association textil&mode has developed and published a guideline for the production of protective masks. It contains all important information for MNS masks that are neither produced as medical devices nor as personal protective equipment (PPE). ++++ In view of the current situation, OEKO-TEX is temporarily adapting its processes with regard to the renewal of certificates and is streamlining the costs for production facilities. Renewals of certificates and new applications should continue to be made so that the production processes of individual retailers and companies are not delayed and put at risk. ++++ The German Fashion Institute (DMI) offers free access to the DMI’s digital information and inspiration services for the duration of the crisis.

Photo: Anna Shvets from Pexels