Covid-19 mask

These are unprecedented times. As Covid-19 tightens its diseased stranglehold on the globe, world leaders struggle with the problems that its vice-like grip brings – choked healthcare systems, economic uncertainty and a bleak future. In this darkness, however, there is hope. People have rallied together to help where they can. Corporations big and small have used their influence and extensive facilities to make a difference in the areas that need them. We highlight some of the fashion brands that have taken up arms and made incredible contributions in this arduous fight.

(Related: How CEOs around the world are responding to Covid-19)

Ermenegildo Zegna

Ermenegildo Zegna Covid-19

The Zegna family and the group’s top management have pledged 3 million Euros to the Italian National Civil Protection, a national body in Italy that deals with the prediction, prevention and management of emergency events. This donation is in support of the nurses, doctors, scientists and volunteers across Italy who have been working tirelessly to fight this epidemic. The group has also converted a part of its production facilities in Italy and Switzerland to manufacture masks and have made monetary contributions to several hospitals for the purchase of ventilators.

“At Zegna we believe our actions today will shape our tomorrow. The pandemic we are all facing is a call for people around the world to take action. Each of us must do our part, in every way possible, to stop this global emergency,” says Gildo Zegna, CEO.

Gucci

Gucci's response to Covid-19

The Kering-owned brand also donated a million euros to the Italian National Civil Protection Department through Intesa Sanpaolo’s ForFunding crowd-funding platform. The money will be used to reinforce Italy’s health services and organisations managing the emergency, with the creation of new ICU beds as a priority.

Globally, Gucci is also contributing another million euros to the United Nations Foundation’s Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund in support of the World Health Organization (WHO) through a Facebook US$10 million matching fundraiser. The fund supports WHO’s lifesaving work across countries, including to help track and understand the spread of the virus, to strengthen patient care and ICUs, to improve supplies for health personnel, including of protection devices, and to accelerate the development of vaccines and therapies.

The brand is also calling on the world to help in any way they can. In Singapore, you can contribute to this fund through this link.

Burberry

Burberry Contributes to the fight against Covid-19

The British brand has been hard at work in the fight against Covid-19. It has retooled its trench coat factory in Castleford, Yorkshire to produce non-surgical gowns and masks for patients. It has funded research into a single-dose vaccine being developed by the University of Oxford, which has one of the world’s best track records in emergency vaccine development. The single-dose vaccine is on track to begin human trials next month. It has donated to charities that are dedicated to tackling food poverty across the UK. As the pressure on food supplies continues to rise, this contribution enables these organisations to continue feeding the young and the old who rely on food banks for their next meal.

“In challenging times, we must pull together. The whole team at Burberry is very proud to be able to support those who are working tirelessly to combat COVID-19, whether by treating patients, working to find a vaccine solution or helping provide food supplies to those in need at this time. COVID-19 has fundamentally changed our everyday lives, but we hope that the support we provide will go some way towards saving more lives, bringing the virus under control and helping our world recover from this devastating pandemic. Together, we will get through this,” said Burberry CEO Marco Gobbetti.

(Related: Covid-19 – what restaurants and bars are doing to stay afloat)

Moncler

Moncler has donated 10 million Euros to fund the construction of a new hospital that’s being built in the former fairgrounds of Milan. Works have already begun on this new medical facility in the Portello Zone and the hospital is being fast tracked to completion. Former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has also thrown his financial weight into the project. The hospital will initially have between 200 and 250 beds, and will require about 1,200 medical personnel for daily operations.

“Milan is a city that has given us all an extraordinary time. We cannot and must not abandon it. It is everyone’s duty to give back to the city what it has given us so far,” Remo Ruffini, Chairman and CEO of Moncler, said in a statement.

Tod’s

Diego Della Valle & Andrea Della Valle Tod's
Diego Della Valle (pictured, left) & Andrea Della Valle.

The Della Valle family, who are majority shareholders of Tod’s, as well as their employees, has allocated five million Euros to support the family members of health personnel who lost their lives in the fight against Covid-19. The brothers have entrusted the administration of the fund to the Civil Protection in Italy.

This is not the first time that the Della Valle family has contributed during a time of crisis. They have donated millions of Euros for a campaign aimed at restoring the Colosseum, and opened a new factory in the central Italian town of Arquata del Tronto in 2017, as part of recovery efforts after a devastating 2016 earthquake.

Last updated 13 April 2020