Malaysian designers too have stepped up with the Malaysian Official Designers Association (MODA) rallying together to sew personal protective equipment (PPE) gowns to aid our frontliners.
Designer and President of MODA Melinda Looi was dismayed to see pictures and videos of nurses and doctors sewing their own PPE gowns.
“They should be focusing on saving lives instead. Leave the sewing work to the designers.”
Melinda got in touch with Elvina, a volunteer who has been making face shields for Hospital Putrajaya and Hospital Cyberjaya and drew up a plan.
“I called up entrepreneur Liyana Zainal to get the contacts of PPE suppliers across the country, as they distribute surgical gowns, shoe covers, and headgear to health workers.
I told her I would get the donors, she will be in charge of the materials and we will sew the hospital gowns.”
In just two days, Melinda secured RM100,000 in donations. Despite only just starting this project, Melinda has received overwhelming response pouring in from not only fashion designers but also home sewers wanting to help make the PPE gowns.
“Fashion designer Khoon Hooi is already creating 600 pieces of PPE gowns, Key Ng is doing a few hundred PPE jumpsuits, Alia Bastamam, Innai Red, Nurita Harith and Mimpikita are all creating a few hundred pieces each. I am targeting between 80,000 to 100,000 pieces of PPE.”
There are also roughly 100 to 200 home sewers contributing to this initiative. Melinda was most touched when 60 and 70-year-olds asked her if they could contribute and sew too.
“It doesn’t matter how old you are. Even if you can only sew one piece, it will benefit at least one frontliner.”
All the PPE gowns that have been completed so far have been delivered to the Institute for Medical Research and Hospital Kuala Lumpur.
MODA has also partnered with FashionValet and IMARET to raise more funds to buy the hospital gown fabric and other protective gear.
Funds will be administered by MODA to buy the fabric to be distributed to designers and volunteers involved to sew PPE hospital gowns as fast as possible.
FashionValet will help with the fundraising and IMARET will assist with distribution to their network of hospitals.
“We are also looking for anyone who has N95 masks and surgical masks to donate to the frontliners who need it the most,” pleads Melinda.
To contribute to this fundraiser, please click here.