Christian Siriano Is Making Free Face Masks For Coronavirus Relief Efforts
Fashion designer Christian Siriano answered New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s call for help
Following New York Governor Andrew Cuomo‘s call for supplies, including gloves, gowns, and masks, designer Christian Siriano put his staff to work to make free face masks for coronavirus relief efforts in New York. The Project Runway star told Buzzfeed the masks will be made for “hospital personnel” in the state.
“If [Cuomo] says we need masks, my team will help make some,” Siriano tweeted. “I have a full sewing team still on staff working from home that can help.”
Cuomo then responded to Siriano, writing, We’re in contact with [Siriano]. Appreciate his help so much. Who’s next? Let’s do this together, NY!”
According to a publicist for Siriano, Bianca Bianconi, the designer “has a staff of sewers “on salary sitting at home and ready to work.” The publicist continued to tell Buzzfeed that “they’re starting to make them now, which we will donate and then a plan will be put together as we flesh it out to manufacture them/more.”
“We will be making a few versions of this in order to help as many people as we can,” Siriano captioned an Instagram video showing one of the masks his staff made. “Here is the process so we can get a perfect fit. More to come thank you everyone we hope to get these to the right people ASAP.”
A spokesperson for Cuomo, Rich Azzopardi, then also told the publication that they’re “working out details [with Siriano], but it’s all hands on deck.”
Hours after his interaction with Siriano, Cuomo returned to Twitter, writing, “NY has a critical need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including gloves, gowns and masks — as well as ventilators. If you have or can make any of these supplies, New York is buying.”
According to ABC News, the U.S. has 13 million N95 respirator masks, but the federal government said that up to one billion may be needed over the next six months.
“I am just in a unique scenario where I manufacture everything in New York already, I have a working atelier and everyone’s working from home, and my office is a townhouse,” Siriano told BAZAAR.com. “We’re just able to make them.”
Siriano encouraged others in the fashion industry should help during this pandemic, as well.
“If everybody can work from home, I think we all could really churn out a lot,” he told the publication. “They will not be pretty. They are not fashionable in any way. It’s really just a basic white mask that hopefully will help. That’s it.”
Siriano later returned to Twitter to give an update.
“Prototypes are happening,” he said.
“More updates by next week.”
