As the Covid-19 pandemic worsens around the world, luxury brands are also stepping up to offer assistance to combat the spread of the disease.
Most notably, luxury conglomerate LVMH that includes brands such as Dior, TAG Heuer, Guerlain and Louis Vuitton, will start manufacturing disinfectant gels in its French makeup and fragrance facilities.
LVMH said it will donate the gels to the French health authorities in an effort to mitigate shortages. The first batch of gels are said to be in production and are a vital tool to combat the disease by killing virus-laden particles that may be picked up by a person’s hands.
LVMH had previously donated US$2.3 million to the Red Cross of China during the height of the disease’s outbreak in China.
France has reported over 6,000 cases in the country and the number of new cases is putting significant strains on the country’s health system.
Aside from that, brands like Versace announced that it would be donating 200,000 euros to the intensive care department of San Raffaele hospital in Milan, one of the worst affected areas in Italy.
As of the time of writing, Italy is the most seriously affected country outside of China with a staggering 31,000 cases reported.
Fellow Italian designer Giorgio Armani also donated 1.25 million euros to Italian hospitals to combat the virus. Similarly, Dolce & Gabbana is helping out by funding essential research by the Humanitas University in Italy into methods to treat Covid-19.
Italian fashion house Prada is also said to be donating six intensive care units to Milan hospitals.
According to the World Health Organisation, as of March 16 2020, a total of 167,500 cases have been reported worldwide.
