Fashion's Helping Hand

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC has left no industry unscathed and that includes fashion. Rather than wait it out, luxury brands such as Gucci and Prada took the initiative to limit production of their high-end goods, and pivot towards making masks and hospital wear as their contribution to the fight against the virus. Back home, independent local brands have also been whipped by the crisis especially with the circuit breaker measures. Being mainly SMEs, they're had to rethink their operations including stock intake and garment production, while trying to stay on the radar of their customers. Here's what some are doing to stay relevant and proactive during this crisis.

HEADS OF STATE MILLINERY DIY Masks Videos

Chee Sau Fen, a former design educator turned millinery designer, felt that the best thing she could do during the current crisis was to share her knowledge of design. "I proposed to the team at National Library to produce five live Facebook sharing sessions to teach novices how to make their own masks," says Miss Chee who started her millinery brand in 2011. With her main business on hold, she was inspired by mandatory mask wearing to research their design and materials, the result of which is her new mask collection. Called the Frond mask, it's a breathable hybrid mask made from overlapping layers or silk and cotton, which she hopes will add a bright note to commuters' daily routines.