Couture Planet is Making Masks for Medical Heroes

During this time of crisis the team at one of my favorite local companies, Couture Planet, saw a need and immediately stepped up to help. Couture Planet is making masks for our medical heroes.

Couture Planet, based in Lynn, Massachusetts, is run by partners Kathy Cormier and Michelle Kane. The company makes a variety of handbags and accessories from 100% post-consumer newspaper.

With the recent news about the desperate need for medical masks, the folks at Couture Planet realized that they had the equipment needed to produce supplies for members of the medical community. They began the process of making masks for our medical heroes.

I reached out to Kathy Cormier for details about what they are doing and she shared photos and the following story, which they also shared on the company’s blog.

News from Couture Planet

Couture Planet has joined the countless other manufacturers and home sewers across our nation with the effort to provide much-needed supplies to our medical workers.

The Coronavirus first affected us when the New England Made wholesale show being held in Portland, Maine, was cancelled the day prior to set up.  (This was March 12.)  Soon thereafter, other shows in Richmond, Virginia and Houston, Texas scheduled for mid-April were also cancelled.  We started thinking that “social distancing” — a new term the whole country had recently learned — would slow our business down.  We were, of course, taken aback, but soon began to make plans for how we would use this break in the action to catch up.  (We had a very busy holiday season and, then, somewhat surprising, a busy January and February-typically slower times of the year for retail sales.)

Then, we all began to understand the scope of the virus.  Businesses began closing and the Governor of MA shut down all but essential businesses.  Without having time to react, we immediately learned about the overwhelming shortage of protective medical masks.  We soon learned that groups were organizing to do whatever possible.  We knew we had to be part of that effort.

We quickly got up to speed on how to actually make the mask — thanks to a number of online how-to videos.  We sought donations of fabric and elastic.  Quarter-inch elastic is scarce at the moment.  We reached out to a partner business who makes labels for us (Labels4U).  They had a big roll of elastic and happily shipped it off to us.  A community member in the Lydia Pinkham Building (Joselito’s Upholstery) dug out another large roll of elastic and again, happily donated to the cause.  We continue to reach out for donations within our local community.

Completed protective masks are going to the Massachusetts DCF (Department of Children and Families) in an effort coordinated by Lauren Baker, wife of Charlie Baker, Governor of MA (who happens to be our neighbor).  Some masks are also going directly to local medical personnel in need.  We will continue our efforts, while maintaining a safe work environment and practicing social distancing.

Thank You Couture Planet!

Thanks to members of the Couture Planet team for all that you are doing to help protect our medical superheroes!

For more information about Couture Planet, check out their website.

Here’s a post I wrote a while back about Couture Planet’s wonderful products: Couture Planet Handbags.