Teeman, Tim. “Christian Siriano.

” Thedailybeast.com, The Daily Beast, 4 Sept. 2018,

https://www.thedailybeast.com/christian-siriano-on-celebrity-friends-living-hardand-not-
designing-for-melania-trump.

Fashion Designer Christian Siriano Sparks a Movement During Coronavirus Pandemic

COM 272-B
Jillian Walinski

The entire world is experiencing a global pandemic that seems to continue to grow. Some people
have been lackadaisical about the current situation, while others have been taking major
precautions. These major precautions, though, have led to a shortage in supplies for medical
professionals who are risking their own lives to care for the health of others during this time.
However, many communities seem to be staying strong in their efforts to protect those around
them that may be at higher risk. We are noticing more and more individuals stepping up to the
plate to assist those in need.

While amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the fashion industry has shifted from one end of the
spectrum to another. Creating trendy clothing and accessories has been put on the back burner in
order to produce masks and gowns for medical professionals. One designer in particular decided
to take on the endeavor of making masks, in response to New York Governor, Andrew Cuomo.
Fashion designer Christian Siriano replied to a tweet from Gov. Cuomo offering help from him
and his team to help fight against the spread of the coronavirus. Siriano and his team of about 10
seamstresses were able to generate 1,000 masks in three days after acquiring materials and
creating prototypes. Since then, they have been able to produce several thousand masks per
week.

Producing medical face masks isn’t an easy feat, even for professional seamstresses. After
creating prototypes for these masks, Siriano enlisted professionals on the safety protocol
measures that him and his team would have to undergo in order to produce masks that could be
approved under FDA or CDC regulations. Upon entering work each day, every staff member’s
temperature is taken. Each seamstress is also required to wear a mask and keep their distance
from one another while working. At the end of the work day, the entire studio is cleaned and
sterilized, ensuring a safe work space to create medical supplies.

It appears that Christian Siriano is not the only fashion brand bringing something to the table in
this time of need. Siriano’s response to Gov. Cuomo has ignited a trend in the fashion industry.
The project that Siriano and his team have taken on has inspired other brands and designers to
follow in his footsteps, like Brandon Maxwell, Armani, and Prada. The studios and production
plants of these large names have become sites for creating medical masks, gowns, and overalls.
The tweets from Gov. Cuomo have even struck a cord in artist, Rihanna, who has donated
personal protective equipment to hospitals in New York City.

Nobody ever knows what will happen in this crazy world, but having so many people come
together to help one another really offers a glimmer of hope for the current circumstances. Self-
quarantine is still going strong for many, and it doesn’t appear that the COVID-19 pandemic will
calm down any time soon. However, with people like Christian Siriano and his team, we can all
try to get through this together and have hope for the future.
 Bibliography

Coleman, Justine. “Designer Christian Siriano's Team Creates Almost 1K Masks.” TheHill, The
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Friedman, Vanessa, and Jessica Testa. “Christian Siriano and Dov Charney Are Making Masks
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Givhan, Robin. “Christian Siriano Has Become the Face of a Fashion Industry That Once
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Hardge, Falen. “Fashion Designers Create Protective Masks to Curb Coronavirus Shortage.” The
Hollywood Reporter, 30 Mar. 2020, www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/christian-siriano-
brandon-maxwell-prada-create-protective-masks-curb-coronavirus-shortage-1286056.

Robin, Marci. “Christian Siriano Has Started Making Masks for Medical Professionals Treating
Coronavirus Patients.” Allure, Allure, 21 Mar. 2020, www.allure.com/story/christian-siriano-
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