The local fashion industry, headed by the Las Vegas Fashion Council, has created the Mask Task Force to address the shortage of masks for health care personnel. There is also a greater need for masks after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation that all Americans wear a face mask in public.
The task force is made up of volunteers from the local fashion industry or the entertainment industry, and some who are just sewists.
They are using material they have on hand, says Carrie Carter Cooper, founder and president of Las Vegas Fashion Council. With elastic and fabric becoming more challenging to source as demand goes up, Cooper says volunteers are getting creative.
“People are coming up with alternate ways to attach the masks. Some are using hair ties or they’re making the ties from the same fabric as the masks,” Cooper said. “If they’re running out of [fabric], they’re now cutting up T-shirts or bedsheets. … But until all of these supply chains are able to actually make more of the N95 or the medical masks, this is a good kind of backup option.”
While demand is high for volunteers who can sew, there are other ways to get involved. The council is accepting donations such as fabric or cash to purchase supplies. It is also reaching out to the apparel industry, uniform companies and manufacturing companies for help in sourcing materials and help with production. Recently, one of the council’s members, who works in the wardrobe department at Wynn Las Vegas, got the word out to the company about ways employees can help.
With the CDC recommendation last week that all Americans wear masks in public, Cooper anticipates demand to grow, but for now, the priority is to provide masks for frontline workers free of charge. Eventually, the council plans to put pricing information on the website so people can purchase masks for themselves or donate one to a health care worker.
To volunteer or to donate money and/or materials, visit http://www.lasvegasfashioncouncil.com/mask-task-force.