20 tonnes of hydroalcoholic gel produced each week, then 50, then 80 now: this is the figure given by LVMH, which supplies French hospitals free of charge from its perfume factories Christian Dior, Guerlain, Givenchy … Facing Covid 19, luxury is committed. The manufacture of surgical masks and FFP2 requiring an approval from the General Delegation of the Ministry of Armaments (three months are necessary but the time should be shortened), the brands send the famous untraceable from China.
“As soon as we receive the certifications, we will start the production of masks in the Parisian workshops of Balenciaga and in our Yves Saint Laurent factory in Angers,” said one at Kering. In the meantime, the luxury group has sent 3 million masks from China while the global giant LVMH has ordered 40 million of this type of protection, deliveries spanning several weeks since March 30.
Armani blouses
Bernard Arnault’s group, which mobilizes several hundred people to find industrial partners around the world, is multiplying operations: ordering 261 respirators in China delivered in April to hospitals, provision by Bulgari of a 3D microscope to the hospital Spallanzani from Rome, donation of additional equipment by Hennessy, etc.
L’Oréal claims to have made available to the authorities its infrastructure in France and China to order medical supplies in large quantities, including several hundred respirators and tens of millions of masks. Hermès donated 20 million euros to hospitals. Among the many similar initiatives in the world, $ 10 million for the Ralph Lauren Foundation in the United States, while the Italian designer Giorgio Armani mobilizes its ready-to-wear factories for the manufacture of blouses in addition to a donation of 2 million euros to several transalpine hospitals.
No partial unemployment
Actions that are accompanied by social measures. The L’Oréal group has announced that all of the jobs will be maintained and that it will not resort to partial unemployment until the end of June despite the total cessation of activities by 3,000 employees in France (out of 13,400). Hermès will also maintain the salaries of its 15,500 employees worldwide without resorting to various public aids.
Ditto at Chanel, which also makes available the 50,000 masks in its possession. The haute couture house also announced a donation of 1.2 million euros to hospitals and Samu. His workshops say they are ready to produce masks and gowns. Again, we have to wait for the certification of raw materials and prototypes.
–
