“Though we are apart, we stand together.”
%20to%20producing%20hand%20sanitizer%20(L'Oréal,%20LVMH%20and%20more)%20and%20using%20fashion%20facilities%20to%20produce%20and%20source%20much-needed%20masks%20and%20personal%20protective%20equipment%20(Knix,%20Canada%20Goose,%20Hilary%20MacMillan%20among%20them),%20designers%20and%20brands%20are%20doing%20what%20they%20can%20to%20help%20right%20now.%20For%20British%20luxury%20brand%20Burberry,%20that%20means%20funding%20research%20into%20a%20COVID-19%20vaccine.%0A%0AOver%20the%20weekend,%20the%20brand%20shared%20a%20release%20listing%20all%20of%20the%20ways%20it%20was%20contributing%20to%20aid%20during%20the%20crisis,%20including%20a%20vaccine%20research%20donation.%20%22We%20are%20funding%20research%20into%20a%20single-dose%20vaccine%20developed%20by%20the%20University%20of%20Oxford.%20The%20university%20has%20one%20of%20the%20world's%20best%20track%20records%20in%20emergency%20vaccine%20development,%20and%20its%20COVID-19%20vaccine%20is%20on%20course%20to%20begin%20human%20trials%20next%20month,%22%20it%20wrote.%0A%0AOxford's%20head%20of%20medical%20sciences,%20Professor%20Gavin%20Screaton,%20praised%20the%20brand%20for%20its%20contribution,%20calling%20it%20%22an%20example%20of%20forward-thinking%20corporate%20philanthropy%20that%20complements%20and%20bolsters%20government%20and%20other%20investment%20in%20Oxford's%20leading%20global%20talent%20in%20this%20field.%22%20He%20added,%20%22Donations%20like%20this%20have%20real%20and%20rapid%20impact,%20allowing%20us%20to%20be%20agile%20in%20our%20response,%20to%20accelerate%20this%20time-critical%20research.%22%0A%0AIn%20addition%20to%20the%20donation%20to%20COVID-19%20vaccine%20research,%20Burberry%20said%20it%20is%20also%20using%20its%20global%20supply%20chain%20network%20%22to%20fast%20track%20the%20delivery%20of%20100,000%20surgical%20masks%20to%20the%20UK%20National%20Health%20Service,%22%20as%20well%20as%20turning%20its%20trench%20coat%20factory%20into%20a%20hub%20for%20non-surgical%20gowns%20and%20masks%20for%20patients%20across%20the%20UK.%20Finally,%20it%20is%20also%20donating%20to%20charities%20working%20to%20alleviate%20food%20poverty%20across%20the%20UK.%0A%0ABurberry's%20CEO%20Marco%20Gobbetti%20said%20in%20a%20statement:%20%22In%20challenging%20times,%20we%20must%20pull%20together.%20The%20whole%20team%20at%20Burberry%20is%20very%20proud%20to%20be%20able%20to%20support%20those%20who%20are%20working%20tirelessly%20to%20combat%20COVID-19,%20whether%20by%20treating%20patients,%20working%20to%20find%20a%20vaccine%20solution%20or%20helping%20provide%20food%20supplies%20to%20those%20in%20need%20at%20this%20time.%22){kind=link}
As the world navigates through the COVID-19 pandemic, brands are increasingly stepping up to provide support in these uncertain times. From holding medical supplies drives (Pyer Moss) to producing hand sanitizer (L’Oréal, LVMH and more) and using fashion facilities to produce and source much-needed masks and personal protective equipment (Knix, Canada Goose, Hilary MacMillan among them), designers and brands are doing what they can to help right now. For British luxury brand Burberry, that means funding research into a COVID-19 vaccine.
Over the weekend, the brand shared a release listing all of the ways it was contributing to aid during the crisis, including a vaccine research donation. “We are funding research into a single-dose vaccine developed by the University of Oxford. The university has one of the world’s best track records in emergency vaccine development, and its COVID-19 vaccine is on course to begin human trials next month,” it wrote.
Oxford’s head of medical sciences, Professor Gavin Screaton, praised the brand for its contribution, calling it “an example of forward-thinking corporate philanthropy that complements and bolsters government and other investment in Oxford’s leading global talent in this field.” He added, “Donations like this have real and rapid impact, allowing us to be agile in our response, to accelerate this time-critical research.”
In addition to the donation to COVID-19 vaccine research, Burberry said it is also using its global supply chain network “to fast track the delivery of 100,000 surgical masks to the UK National Health Service,” as well as turning its trench coat factory into a hub for non-surgical gowns and masks for patients across the UK. Finally, it is also donating to charities working to alleviate food poverty across the UK.
Burberry’s CEO Marco Gobbetti said in a statement: “In challenging times, we must pull together. The whole team at Burberry is very proud to be able to support those who are working tirelessly to combat COVID-19, whether by treating patients, working to find a vaccine solution or helping provide food supplies to those in need at this time.”