Fashion designer makes pastel-colored PPEs for front-liners

NEXT DESIGN Aside from pastel-colored PPEs, Marvin Orias says he is also considering making suits with prints. —PHOTO courtesy of ORIAS STUDIOS

MANILA,  Philippines — A fashion designer has started making washable and reusable personal protective equipment (PPE) suits in cotton candy colors to not only protect, but also bring joy to front-liners battling the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The “bunny suits” that come in baby blue, green and pink are being donated to hospital workers who badly need protection from the virus while caring for patients.

“We have what we call ‘color psychology.’ Bringing a little bit of color can bring a spirit of happiness to places filled with weariness and anxiety,” said Marvin ‘Vin’ Orias, founder of men’s clothing store Orias Studios which has dressed several celebrities, including Piolo Pascual, John Lloyd Cruz and former Miss Universe Catriona Gray.

Pink, Orias told the Inquirer, speaks of compassion, sincerity and excitement while blue means competence, peace and dependability. Each suit costs P347 depending on the fabric.

“We wanted to create more PPE suits to give [front-liners] a good fighting chance to battle the virus, but realistically speaking, this is going to be a long fight,” he said.

Team of five

With a lean team of five, Orias has been making PPEs in his small workspace in Quezon City although he is tapping more sewers to speed up the work.

The suits are made of washable and waterproof fabric compared to most PPEs that are nonwoven and disposable.

“The formula is very simple: the suit pattern should cover the body and the material is liquid-repellant. This makes the suit washable so we can limit wastage versus the nonwoven type that is of one-time use,” he said. Orias added that he was also looking into making PPE suits with prints.

The 53 suits produced by his team since Thursday will go to St. Luke’s Medical Center-Global City, Chinese General Hospital, Lung Center of the Philippines and East Avenue Medical Center.So far, his team has encountered two obstacles. They are hoping to raise P200,000 in donations to make 500 suits this month but have so far collected only P55,000 as of Tuesday.

Limited supply

Another is their limited supply of fabric rolls. “We are trying to convince warehouse owners to open up,” Orias said.

Since announcing his project over the weekend, several hospitals, private donors and nongovernment organizations have sought his help, with some requests coming from provinces outside Metro Manila like Laguna, Cavite, Pampanga, Albay and Iloilo.Dr. Veronica Vera Cruz, a radiation oncologist from Chinese General Hospital, was one of the doctors who approached Orias for donations.

“These would really help especially since we are still waiting for PPEs from the government. What Vin did—the colorful PPEs—will really cheer up doctors and nurses. Pampabuhay talaga [They liven up the surroundings]! The colors will give energy in hospitals,” she said.

According to Orias, he wants to open a dialogue with the medical community after the quarantine period to create a contingency plan with members from the fashion industry.

“We have to develop a good relationship with each other to come up with more creative ways to help the hospital environment become a welcoming and a happy place through strategic garments like staff uniforms and patients’ robes,” he said. INQ