The British Fashion Council this weekend announced the launch of ‘Great British Designer Face Coverings: Reusable, for People and Planet’, a joint campaign in partnership with Bags of Ethics, that will see the manufacture and international sale of sustainable and reusable non-medical face coverings to use alongside existing social distancing measures.
Designed right here in London, by British designers Halpern, Julien Macdonald, Liam Hodges, Mulberry, RAEBURN and RIXO, the non-medical face coverings will be manufactured at Bags of Ethics 100% owned partner factories, with the aim of providing a reusable and sustainable option for the environment with no single-use plastic.
Available to buy online at britishfashioncouncil.com, and through partner retailers soon, including ASOS, Boots, John Lewis & Partners and Sainsbury’s (in Tu Clothing sections in selected superstores, convenience stores and online at Tu.co.uk and Argos.co.uk), masks will retail at at £15 for three fabric face coverings (all of which reusable and washable) along with two protective pouches.
“Fashion is a unifying force right now, more than ever, it is essential that we collaborate and come together to support each other through difficult times,” Caroline Rush, Chief Executive of the British Fashion Council said in a press release. “Our ambition is to contribute to the fight against COVID-19, while protecting vital PPE supplies reserved for the NHS. Through this project, we will not only celebrate British designers, but also champion sustainability in a time of crisis.”
“We have always been at the forefront of supporting the public through mass behavioural changes in positive usual ways.” Dr R Sri Ram, Chairman of Bags of Ethics adds. “Since the early 2000s we helped supermarkets, and retailers reduce their single-use plastic bag consumption by 5+ billion units through sustainable and reusable bags. A new challenge arises with the Coronavirus pandemic.”
The Great British Designer Face Coverings: Reusable, for People and Planet project aims to raise £1 million – with 100% of sale profits going to charity and split between NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Urgent Appeal, BFC Foundation Fashion Fund and Wings of Hope Children’s Charity.
