U.S. and European Textile Industry Pitches In During Coronavirus With Masks and Other Essentials
April 3, 2020
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. – Major textile manufacturers have geared up production of masks and other essentials during the coronavirus pandemic, including Belgium’s Bru Textiles, and in the U.S., Kravet Inc., Wearbest Weavers, Culp, Fabricut, and others.
Overall, officials say the industry has banded together to aid in filling the void of available equipment and will continue to offer their services to try and help fight the fast-spreading virus.
Kravet in Bethpage, New York, has donated 1,000 yards of fabric to produce masks, according to the company.
A Kravet employee producing masks.
Here’s one example from the company. In southern New Jersey, a mid-size hospital was desperate for masks, so Joanne Carrocino, CEO of Cape Regional Medical Center, calls for help to board members Bill Wenzel of NorthCape in Alsip, Illinois, and Ellen Kravet of Kravet.
Within a few hours, the team figured out the specifications of fabrics, the logistics of making the masks, and then having them all sewn by hand. Production began on March 23 in both the NorthCape warehouse and Kravet's South Carolina facility. Officials estimate about 3,000 masks can be made per day.
Additionally, Kravet joined efforts with outdoor furniture brand Woodard Furniture, which has converted its Michigan facility to manufacture masks. Kravet has donated 500 yards of fabric, along with fabric from textile company Schumacher.
Kravet employees sewing masks.
CULP SHIFTS OPERATIONS
Culp Inc. in High Point, North Carolina, has shifted some of its operations to produce face masks as well as other fabrics used at healthcare facilities, nursing homes, and others.
“Culp is fortunate to have the ability to leverage our production capabilities and help meet the critical demand for protective masks and other necessary supplies to support healthcare and critical infrastructure,” Culp CEO Iv Culp says in a statement.
WEARBEST CHANGES GEARS
Wearbest Weavers in Garfield, New Jersey, supplies fabrics to the healthcare industry using microbe and bacterial resistant upholstery.
The company is working to produce personal protective equipment, or PPE, especially gowns, surgical masks, privacy curtains, and other necessary items. Wearbest officials are seeking U.S. partners that have workrooms with sewing capabilities.
“As a U.S.-based manufacturer, we are proud to have the ability to contribute to the safety of the dedicated personnel fighting the global pandemic of COVID-19,” Greg Thomases, vice president of Wearbest parent company, Swavelle, says in a statement.
EUROPEAN COMPANIES BAND TOGETHER
Bru Textiles in Kontich, Belgium, one of the world’s largest furnishing fabric converters and distributors, has teamed up with others to produce masks, according to its LinkedIn statement.
Together with ArteVelum in Belgium and Eisenkolb Window in the Netherlands, Bru officials are able to laser-cute face masks, sew them, and distribute to health care facilities.
Health care facilities looking for additional face masks can email the following: bart@artevelum.eu .
FABRICUT CONTRIBUTES
A Fabricut employee making masks.
Fabricut, one of the largest U.S. wholesalers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is contributing masks for healthcare workers, either by making the masks themselves or by providing the fabric to others. For the Fabricut masks, there are two kinds; one with their own fabric in a reversible design and one using medical-grade fabric, which was provided to them by local medical centers.
The Fabricut team working on the masks are from the samples department, which normally make memos, showroom sample displays, and other sampling for their products.
The company is also providing fabric to Wesley Hall Furniture in Hickory, North Carolina, which brought in a special crew to make several hundred mask covers for hospitals in New York, Michigan, and California.
Overall, officials say the industry has banded together to aid in filling the void of available equipment and will continue to offer their services to try and help fight the fast-spreading virus.
Kravet in Bethpage, New York, has donated 1,000 yards of fabric to produce masks, according to the company.
A Kravet employee producing masks.
Here’s one example from the company. In southern New Jersey, a mid-size hospital was desperate for masks, so Joanne Carrocino, CEO of Cape Regional Medical Center, calls for help to board members Bill Wenzel of NorthCape in Alsip, Illinois, and Ellen Kravet of Kravet.
Within a few hours, the team figured out the specifications of fabrics, the logistics of making the masks, and then having them all sewn by hand. Production began on March 23 in both the NorthCape warehouse and Kravet's South Carolina facility. Officials estimate about 3,000 masks can be made per day.
Additionally, Kravet joined efforts with outdoor furniture brand Woodard Furniture, which has converted its Michigan facility to manufacture masks. Kravet has donated 500 yards of fabric, along with fabric from textile company Schumacher.
Kravet employees sewing masks.
CULP SHIFTS OPERATIONS
Culp Inc. in High Point, North Carolina, has shifted some of its operations to produce face masks as well as other fabrics used at healthcare facilities, nursing homes, and others.
“Culp is fortunate to have the ability to leverage our production capabilities and help meet the critical demand for protective masks and other necessary supplies to support healthcare and critical infrastructure,” Culp CEO Iv Culp says in a statement.
WEARBEST CHANGES GEARS
Wearbest Weavers in Garfield, New Jersey, supplies fabrics to the healthcare industry using microbe and bacterial resistant upholstery.
The company is working to produce personal protective equipment, or PPE, especially gowns, surgical masks, privacy curtains, and other necessary items. Wearbest officials are seeking U.S. partners that have workrooms with sewing capabilities.
“As a U.S.-based manufacturer, we are proud to have the ability to contribute to the safety of the dedicated personnel fighting the global pandemic of COVID-19,” Greg Thomases, vice president of Wearbest parent company, Swavelle, says in a statement.
EUROPEAN COMPANIES BAND TOGETHER
Bru Textiles in Kontich, Belgium, one of the world’s largest furnishing fabric converters and distributors, has teamed up with others to produce masks, according to its LinkedIn statement.
Together with ArteVelum in Belgium and Eisenkolb Window in the Netherlands, Bru officials are able to laser-cute face masks, sew them, and distribute to health care facilities.
Health care facilities looking for additional face masks can email the following: bart@artevelum.eu .
FABRICUT CONTRIBUTES
A Fabricut employee making masks.
Fabricut, one of the largest U.S. wholesalers in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is contributing masks for healthcare workers, either by making the masks themselves or by providing the fabric to others. For the Fabricut masks, there are two kinds; one with their own fabric in a reversible design and one using medical-grade fabric, which was provided to them by local medical centers.
The Fabricut team working on the masks are from the samples department, which normally make memos, showroom sample displays, and other sampling for their products.
The company is also providing fabric to Wesley Hall Furniture in Hickory, North Carolina, which brought in a special crew to make several hundred mask covers for hospitals in New York, Michigan, and California.
