How has this initiative evolved since launching? Are you surprised with how this has evolved?
Our first batch of over 300 water-repellant, reusable gowns was self-funded and sewn only four short weeks ago. Today, we have distributed thousands of gowns, and thousands more are in progress. To date, GDFG has provided gowns to the New York State Department of Health, as well as over 31 hospitals, nursing homes, EMT Stations, and Fire departments. We never envisioned when ordering fabric for those initial gowns just how far this project would come. And we are in awe of what a significant impact some simple manufacturing and well-intentioned people banding together can have on our community.
When we go to donate gowns, we see firsthand the stressful environment the frontline workers face everyday. Having the opportunity to support them by providing much needed PPE has been incredibly inspiring for us. We see how hard they work and that keeps us motivated around the clock to do what it takes for them. Plus, the feedback we’ve received from medical workers has been so encouraging and heartwarming! They’ve let us know that they not only really like the gowns, but also feel very protected in them.
What is your goal with this initiative, and where do you anticipate taking this operation in the future?
Our original goal was fairly conservative. We are just three women with a strong desire to help, and the experience and ability to do so. However, we quickly recognized just how critical our efforts were and have been racing to build a robust operation that would offer an immediate solution to the medical community’s needs. Thanks to our generous donors and our amazing volunteers, we are now working with high-volume manufacturing plants that allow us to scale faster and increase our capacity to produce FDA-approved PPE. On learning that experts projected a shortfall of 20 million gowns, we increased our own goals to meet the initial needs of the state.
Although the peak of the virus in NYC appears to have passed, demand for protection by our frontline workers remains strong. In his May 3rd briefing, Governor Cuomo went so far as to call PPE shortages “a national security issue,” and we intend to do whatever we can to get ahead of the curve in the case of a second wave.
What is your message for the fashion community?
As our industry – and the economy at large – endures this dark period, it’s now more important than ever to support American manufacturing. The Garment District is truly the behind the scenes stars of our line of work, and we should all do what we can to pay homage to it during this unprecedented time.