FABRIC Helps Protect Healthcare Workers During Pandemic
Entities operating within the Fashion and Business Resource Innovation Center (FABRIC). have made 500,000 FDA-approved reusable, level 2 and 3 isolation gowns for medical professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic. The reusable gowns can be worn and washed 100 times, the result of which is equivalent to keeping 50 million disposable gowns out of landfills.
This amazing manufacturing milestone was made possible by support provided by Flinn Foundation, Virginia G. Piper, Charitable Trust, Pakis Center for Business Philanthropy, Tempe Innovation Development Association, Thunderbirds Charities, BHHS Legacy Foundation, Silicon Valley Bank, PCA Skin, AZ Community Foundation, and AZBio.
The funds raised from these donors made it possible for Arizona Fashion Source, the manufacturer at FABRIC, to ramp up manufacturing efforts to meet this emergency need and provide hundreds of essential manufacturing jobs during the pandemic. The gowns themselves, now branded under the name Reusa, continue to fill the needs of healthcare facilities around the nation as COVID cases continue to rise.
Proceeds from the gown sales have been donated back to FABRIC Tempe. These funds, along with the PPE equipment, will enable FABRIC Tempe to continue to support apparel entrepreneurs with training, guidance, innovative industry resources, and access to no-minimum manufacturing so they can build sustainable businesses domestically beyond the pandemic.
