Production of PPE designed by local fashion designer now in full swing

Image: Courtesy of the Office of the Vice President

MANILA, Philippines — Production of locally-designed personal protective equipment (PPE) initiated by the Office of the Vice President, in partnership with a local fashion designer, has been in full swing.

On Tuesday, Vice President Leni Robredo inspected the working area and staff involved in the repacking and sorting of the PPE sets.

OVP also partnered with manufacturing companies and women’s groups in communities to realize the project, which produces reusable protective suits that will be delivered to hospitals for the use of COVID-19 frontliners.

Image: Courtesy of the Office of the Vice President

Renowned local fashion designer and milliner Mich Dulce, who leads Manila Protective Gear Sewing Club, created the PPE pattern and tech pack – which includes the design patterns and specification sheet. The tech pack has been made available online to allow other clothes designers to reproduce and hopefully, address the PPE shortage in the country.

Image: Courtesy of the Office of the Vice President

Dulce’s PPE design pattern is the first “medically reviewed open-source suit design.”

“Each suit also comes with ‘care instructions’, or a guide on how to ensure its quality for reuse. Various fabrics donated for this initiative are also tested before they are cleared for use,” OVP said.

KGA