italian luxury fashion house prada has announced that it will manufacture 80,000 medical overalls and 110,000 masks to help combat the COVID-19 pandemic. following a request from the tuscany region, prada began the production of the equipment on march 18, 2020 and is seeking to allocate the overalls and masks to healthcare personnel by april 6, 2020. the articles are being produced internally at the prada factory in montone, perugia, which has stayed open for this purpose.

 

H&M has said that it will also use its manufacturing power to produce and provide hospitals and healthcare workers with protective gear. in other news, designers are finding ways to support health systems and fill a shortage of ventilators with some taking to 3D printing. meanwhile, automakers tesla, GM and ford have pledged to convert some of its production to create ventilators where necessary. see all news and projects relating to the COVID-19 pandemic here.