Societies coming together one stitch at a time

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted society on a scale that most of us never witnessed before. But it also generated a surge in solidarity where people, individually and collectively, are helping in any way they can.

Like many organisations, we are doing what we can to tackle the widespread effects of the pandemic. In response to the urgent need for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health care workers, we have adapted our supply chain into sourcing and producing face masks and protective aprons. We have the capability to produce one million single-use, long-sleeved aprons a week, and we are planning to scale up production.

Our teams around the world are now supporting countries and communities with high volumes of equipment that meets the necessary health and safety requirements. So far we have delivered aprons and masks to Italy, Spain, Sweden and Myanmar, and more countries will be added to the list.

Everywhere, volunteer initiatives are rising to be a link in the solidarity chain. H&M is proud to be the first fashion brand to provide fabric supplies for the "Solidarity Mask" initiative by Paris Good Fashion. By mobilising networks of volunteer seamstresses, stores and companies, the actors of the operation are mass-producing and distributing free masks for the general public in France at the time of deconfinement.

Change is at H&M's core, and this is only the first steps in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will keep adapting and find new ways to help in any way we can.

Stay safe; stay well.