Iconic Canadian company Tilley is using its factory to make gowns and masks for hospitals
Iconic Canadian hat and travel apparel company Tilley has announced plans to join the fight against COVID-19 by producing much-needed personal protective equipment (PPE) for hospitals.
The company's Toronto factory has been converted to manufacture non-medical masks and gowns for hospitals, and production begins today.
The new PPE will be for non-patient facing hospital staff in order to ensure they can save their medical-grade PPE for front-line workers.
Over the past two weeks, Tilley had been studying its production abilities and working with a local hospital group on approving patterns
for masks and gowns to ensure correct protective fit, and the brand has already started production on non-medical masks and face shields for consumers.
The company says it will donate 10 per cent of proceeds from the consumer masks to COVID-19 relief.
"The health of the global community is our top priority at this time, and we’re ready to pivot our resources to support the medical professionals
fighting COVID-19," said Andrew Prendergast, president and CEO of Tilley Endurables Inc., in a statement.
The Canadian government put out a call to action to businesses capable of manufacturing PPE and other medical equipment at the end of March, and Tilley is just one of many brands to answer that call in recent weeks.
"If you are a Canadian manufacturer or business that can assist Canada in meeting the need for medical supplies, your help is needed," the federal government wrote online.
"The Plan to Mobilize Industry to fight COVID-19 directly supports businesses to rapidly scale up production or re-tool their manufacturing lines to develop products made in Canada that will help in the fight against COVID-19."
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