In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an international shortage of life-saving masks. To support front line workers and limit the spread of the virus, Toronto-based contemporary womenswear brand, Hilary MacMillan, recently announced it will begin manufacturing masks for use in shelters, charities, grocery store employees, elderly homes and for any other persons in need.
"As a Canadian brand and citizen, I understand the dire situation we are in with the spread of this global pandemic,” states Hilary MacMillan. “We felt it was our duty to do as much as we could to give back and help those in more vulnerable positions as both a show of support and to help keep our frontline workers safe and healthy.”
Image Credit: Hilary MacMillan
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Increased Mask Production
- The shortage of life-saving masks during the COVID-19 pandemic has led to an opportunity for designers like Hilary MacMillan to contribute to increased mask production.
- Fashionable Protective Gear
- Designers like Hilary MacMillan are creating fashionable masks to offer a stylish and personalized alternative to standard protective gear.
- Collaboration Between Fashion and Healthcare
- The collaboration between fashion brands and healthcare institutions during the pandemic highlights the potential for disruptive innovation in merging different industries for common goals.
Where This Applies
- Fashion
- The production of designer-made pandemic masks demonstrates a potential market for fashionable and stylish protective gear within the fashion industry.
- Healthcare
- The partnership between designers and healthcare institutions presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in creating new solutions and improving the accessibility of healthcare supplies.
- Charitable Organizations
- The use of designer masks in shelters and charities highlights the potential for collaboration between fashion brands and charitable organizations in addressing critical needs during emergencies.
