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The 'Project Runway' stars are doing their part in making masks and gowns for doctors and nurses amid the COVID-19 outbreak.Â
Designers Christian Siriano and Brandon Maxwell are making face masks and gowns for medical workers and others on the front lines of the battle against COVID-19 after Siriano made a public offer via Instagram and Twitter.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo took Siriano up on his offer and asked who else was willing to jump in to help quell the shortage of essential medical supplies.
Siriano tweeted the offer to Cuomo on Friday.
\u201cIf @NYGovCuomo says we need masks my team will help make some. I have a full sewing team still on staff working from home that can help.\u201d— Christian Siriano (@Christian Siriano) 1584720701
The offer came as Cuomo put out a call for protective gear due to a severe shortage of in the face of the pandemic.
\u201cNY has a critical need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including gloves, gowns and masks \u2014 as well as ventilators.\n\nIf you have or can make any of these supplies, New York is buying. Please email COVID19supplies@esd.ny.gov.\n\nHelp us share this far and wide!\u201d— Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo (@Archive: Governor Andrew Cuomo) 1584737730
Following Siriano's offer, Cuomo tweeted a thank-you and asked the designer to DM his team for details. Before long, Siriano had tweeted a possible prototype of a face mask.
\u201cWe will be making a few versions of this in order to help as many people as we can. Here is the process so we can get a perfect fit. More to come thank you everyone we hope to get these to the right people ASAP\u201d— Christian Siriano (@Christian Siriano) 1584735236
Shortly after, Brandon Maxwell confirmed that his team have also started making medical gowns:
The gear, known as N95 face masks, are intended to protect the wearer from airborne particles and liquid, according to ABC News.
The United States currently has approximately 13 million N95 masks in stock, but the federal government has determined that the country may need up to a billion over the next six months, ABC Newsreports.
Siriano's offer to do his part during the crisis inspired others to offer their services.
\u201c@CSiriano working on some for the hospitals in #Wyoming. Thanks for the inspiration.\u201d— Christian Siriano (@Christian Siriano) 1584735236
\u201c@CSiriano @NYGovCuomo I second that @csiriano! @hedleyandbennett can help make face masks, gowns, etc in our 16,000 sq ft factory in LA @NYGovCuomo! We have a full sewing team ready to help and are in this together! Please tag anyone who can get us in touch with their team and spread this message!\u201d— Christian Siriano (@Christian Siriano) 1584720701
\u201c@CSiriano @NYGovCuomo I was thinking the same thing. I\u2019ve got a small factory that can pump out masks, too. We\u2019re in the east village, small. But could probably make 500 a day\u201d— Christian Siriano (@Christian Siriano) 1584720701
\u201c@CSiriano @NYGovCuomo FIT grad here ready and willing to help out. I have a sewing machine at home. Just say the word.\u201d— Christian Siriano (@Christian Siriano) 1584720701
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Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP of Editorial and Special Projects at equalpride. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.
Tracy E. Gilchrist is the VP of Editorial and Special Projects at equalpride. A media veteran, she writes about the intersections of LGBTQ+ equality and pop culture. Previously, she was the editor-in-chief of The Advocate and the first feminism editor for the 55-year-old brand. In 2017, she launched the company's first podcast, The Advocates. She is an experienced broadcast interviewer, panel moderator, and public speaker who has delivered her talk, "Pandora's Box to Pose: Game-changing Visibility in Film and TV," at universities throughout the country.
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