LOCKDOWN LEADER: Barbour

UK fashion house Barbour is producing 23,000 protective gowns for frontline medical workers battling Covid-19. Working with the Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, the clothing retailer, better known for its wax jackets and country fashion has repurposed its production line at a time when PPE is desperately needed.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Barbour chair Dame Margaret Barbour said approximately 7000 navy blue gowns should be ready by the end of this week – though some had already been sent to hospitals in the North East. “I offered to see how we could help because I have a lot of machinists that are locked down at the moment and I'm sure they would come back and help,” she said, adding she had “lots and lots of fabric”. Dame Margaret also said they’d managed to secure face masks, which they are distributing to the other hospitals in the area and all of Tyneside and Gateshead from its factory on Bede Industrial Estate in Jarrow, South Tyneside. “Our girls have worked very, very hard to come back from a lockdown,” she said, admitting that they had to re-organise the manufacturing line and factory layout around the new social distancing rules. “It has been difficult because we had to undertake the strict guidelines laid down to make sure that they have plenty of protection and plenty of space around them. We've had to cut down a lot of our lines obviously – not all our girls can be accommodated, but they are taking turns, playing their part. The girls are very, very capable and helpful, and they can turn their skills to most things really.” Barbour will now up its production of gowns for the Royal Victoria Infirmary and other North East NHS trusts. Dame Margaret commented that the drive reminded her that Barbour had made suits for Submarine Service during World War II, and “trench sleeping bags” for soldiers in World War I. “It's extremely worthwhile to know we're playing our part,” she added. 

---