How Your Favorite Fashion Brands Are Helping Out During the Coronavirus Pandemic

As people continue to take proper precautions to stop the spread of COVID-19, businesses have seen some major shakeups. Employees are working from home, events are being canceled and postponed (the Olympics included), and, when it comes to the fashion industry, brands are pivoting focus. Instead of creating glamorous red carpet gowns, some are making protective masks. Instead of cashing in on sales, a handful are donating proceeds to charity.

Following in the footsteps of luxury and beauty brands, some of the companies you love to shop are dedicating time and money to helping out during the coronavirus pandemic. See what some of our favorites have been up to, ahead, and be sure to check back — the list, thankfully, grows every day.

Donating Proceeds

  • Everlane — All profits from its 100% Human collection are being donated to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund.
  • Cult Gaia — Donating 10% of sales to No Kid Hungry.
  • Paige — Donating 20% of all profits to St. Vincent Meals on Wheels.
  • Khaite — Along with a $10,000 donation, 10% sales for 30 days will go to Baby2Baby.
  • SKIMS — Donating 20% of profits from the Cotton Collection restock to Baby2Baby's COVID-19 Emergency Response Program.
  • Tanya Taylor — Donating 10% of all sales to The Kids In Need Foundation.
  • Jennifer Meyer — Through the end of March, 20% of sales will go directly to Baby2Baby.
  • Freda Salvador — $5 from every sale will go to Feeding America.
  • Alejandra Alonso Rojas — Through May 30th, 30% of proceeds will be split between God's Love We Deliver and No Kid Hungry.
  • Kendra Scott — 50% of proceeds from the Everlyne Bracelets will directly support the Feeding America network of food banks.
  • Proenza Schouler — Donating 10% of net sales to Citymeals on Wheels.
  • Aritzia — All of Aritizia's profits during this time will go to the Aritzia Community™ Relief Fund to support employees and their families.
  • Kenneth Cole — Donating 20% of net sales to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
  • Mr. Larkin — Donating 10% of all sales from the spring '20 collection to Kids' Meals Inc. in Houston and Houston Food Bank.
  • Pangaia — For every post/tip/hashtag, $1 will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.
  • Coco Shop — Donating 20% of proceeds to Feeding America.​​​​​​
  • Bagtazo — Donating 20% of proceeds to No Kid Hungry.
  • Loup — 15% of proceeds to Meals on Wheels.
  • Viva Aviva — 20% of proceeds to Food Bank of NY.
  • Edie Parker — Donating 15% of all sales to No Kid Hungry, City Meals, and Feeding America.
  • TAI Jewelry — Donating 20% of all sales from March to Feeding America.
  • Nomasei — Donating 10% of proceeds to the Italian Red Cross (5%) and the French Hospital Association (5%).
  • SVNR — Donating 50% of web sales to Meals on Wheels.
  • Sézane — Donating 10% of all proceeds from the Ceremony collection to the emergency aid fund set up for the foundation of French hospitals.
  • Pronovias — Offering wedding dresses to hospital-employed brides-to-be, available until Aug. 31, 2020.
  • Modern Citizen —  $10 from every order $150+ will be donated to Feeding America’s COVID-19 Response Fund. Modern Citizen will then match each donation with an extra $10, creating a total contribution of $20.
  • Labucq — Donating 10% of all sales to two Milan-based hospitals, Cremona, and Niguarda, via their GoFundMe pages.
  • Nicole Miller — 10% of sales will go to Global Giving to support efforts in the fight against COVID-19.

Making Masks and Other Needed Supplies

  • Crocs — Donating a free pair of shoes — with free shipping — to healthcare workers on the frontlines of COVID-19.​​​​
  • Christian Siriano — Creating and donating protective masks to health care workers.
  • Inditex — The Spain-based company that owns Zara announced via statement that it would make protective masks for masks for patients and medical workers alike. 
  • Brandon Maxwell — Making personal protective equiptment, starting with gowns.
  • Hanes — Currently shifting the focus of some fascilities in order to produce medical masks.
  • Allbirds — Donating shoes to healtcare workers and those working on the frontlines fighting Covid-19.
  • Prabal Gurung — Working in partnership with New York's Governor Cuomo and local hospitals to create regulated PPE for medical workers and first responders.
  • Rachel Comey — Sharing tutorials on how to make face masks.
  • Los Angeles Apparel — Making surgical face masks and hospital gowns.
  • Giovanna — Founder Leonora Arslani is making face masks at home, which will then be donated to Masks4Medicine. 
  • Gap Inc. — Gap Inc. (which includes the Gap, Old Navy, Athleta, Banana Republic, Intermix, Hill City and Janie and Jack brands) is using its resources to make masks, gowns and scrubs for healthcare workers on the frontlines.
  • Karla Colletto — Working towards producing personal protective equipment for those on the COVID-19 frontlines.
  • Michael Costello — Making protective, non-surgical-grade face masks.
  • Kelsey Randall — Sharing tutorials on how to make face masks and donating their own to those who need them. The first batch was given to a team of medics at the border.
  • Neiman Marcus — Working with JOANN stores to produce masks, gowns, and scrubs for frontline healthcare workers.

Closing Stores But Still Paying Their Workers

  • Kohl's — With plans to reopen on April 1, the company will be providing pay for employees for a 2-week period.
  • Pandora Jewelry — Will continue with normal, scheduled base pay for at least eight weeks while staff is at home.
  • Lululemon — Employees will continue to be paid for all the hours they were scheduled to work.
  • Nike — A spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that, although stores are closed, workers will still be paid in full during this time off.
  • Adidas — According to Footwear News, employees will still be paid for all hours they were scheduled to work. The same goes for Reebok, which is part of the same company.
  • Levi's — Store staff will be paid as scheduled.
  • Gap Inc. — Impacted store employees will still be paid and have benefits during a two-week period.
  • H&M — Will support impacted employees with two weeks of pay.
  • Madewell — Initial plans listed March 28 as the final day of store closures, and the company will continue to pay employees through this period.
  • TJX Companies —  Employees who work at TJMaxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods stores, as well as in distribution and offices, will be paid for two weeks during the closure.
  • Rent the Runway — While stores are closed, employees will continue to be paid for their usual part-time or full-time scheduled hours.
  • Tapestry Inc. — The company that owns Coach, Kate Spade and Stuart Weitzman will continue to pay impacted employees and give them benefits until March 27, which was meant to be the final day of closures.
  • Ascena Retail Group Inc. — This company owns Ann Taylor, LOFT, Lou & Grey, Lane Bryant, Cacique, Catherines, and Justice. During the temporary closure period, store employees will be compensated for their scheduled shifts.
  • DSW — Emergency pay will be enacted in order to compensate store employees for their scheduled shifts.
  • Allbirds — Plans to keep stores closed until March 27. Until then, all store employees will continue to be paid and receive benefits.
  • Deckers Brands — Retail employees will continue to receive pay and benefits during the temporary closure period, lasting until March 31. The company owns Ugg, Hoka One, Teva, Koolaburra, and Sanuk.
  • Neiman Marcus — Employees will continue to be paid during the two-week closure period.
  • J.Crew — According to a statement from the brand's CEO, store employees will be paid during the closure, lasting until March 28.
  • Cuyana — Employees will be compensated for their scheduled shifts.
  • Rothy's — Retail employees will continue to be paid through March 31.
  • Macy’s — According to a statement, stores will remain closed through March 31. During that time, employees will continue to be paid and receive benefits.
  • Nordstrom — Store employees will be paid and given benefits during the two-week closure period. They will also have access to additional resources.
  • American Eagle Outfitters — Throughout the closure lasting until March 27, store employees will be paid. The company will also work to get associates access to medical testing, should they need it.
  • Bloomingdales — Store associates will be paid throughout the closure period, lasting until March 31.
  • Ralph Lauren — While stores are temporarily closed, employees will still be paid.
  • L.L. Bean — After closing all U.S. retail locations until March 29, the company promised to pay and provide benefits to all store employees.
  • Reformation — While remain closed, the company will compensate employees for as long as it possibly can.

The coronavirus pandemic is unfolding in real time, and guidelines change by the minute. We promise to give you the latest information at time of publishing, but please refer to the CDC and WHO for updates.

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