Fashion, Textile Cos. in U.S. Start Producing Medical Face Masks

American fashion and textile companies are starting to collectively produce medical grade face masks, as the country’s doctors and hospitals deal with a critical shortage amid a growing number of patients ill with COVID-19, or coronavirus. As of now, nine companies have formed a “coalition” of sorts to get production going, according to the National Council of Textile Organizations. The companies are American Giant, Fruit of the Loom, Hanesbrands, Parkdale Inc., Los Angeles Apparel, AST Sportswear, American Knits, Beverly Knits and Riegel Linen. The NCTO said Parkdale, the largest yarn spinner in the U.S. based in North Carolina, led the effort after the White House made clear there was an urgent need for medical supplies like face masks. The organization said the nine companies joined together “virtually overnight” to “build a supply chain” and “fast-track the manufacturing of medical face masks to help hospitals, health care workers and citizens battling the spread of the COVID-19 disease.” Peter Navarro, an assistant to President Donald Trump and current director of the White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy, has been working with the coalition and some of the first face masks have already been approved by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,

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