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Easton retailer seeks 'modern day Rosies' to stitch handmade mask covers
KEITH ARNOLD
Special to the Legal News
Published: April 9, 2020
Easton handbag retailer R.Riveter has put out the call for individuals who know how to sew or have access to the raw materials to make back-up medical face masks and mask covers to join to a national effort to fight the coronavirus outbreak.
Named for Rosie the Riveter - the iconic World War II-era representation of American women's contribution to home-front efforts - the company operates using a remote network of needle workers, known as riveters, to produce the brand's stylish bags.
Recognizing the strained health-care system and a shortage of proper personal protection equipment (PPE) even among health-care workers due to widespread purchasing by consumers, the company plans to pick up the mantle, abiding by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for a crisis situation which allows health-care workers to use a handmade mask or use a mask cover when approved PPE is not available.
PPE is critical to keeping our health-care workers on the front lines safe, the company noted in its announcement. Millions of handmade masks and covers are needed.
"Who knew that over the last eight years we were unknowingly building a network capable of responding to this crisis," co-CEO Lisa Bradley said in prepared remarks. "Just as the women supporting the wartime effort during World War II answered the call to assist with supplies and munitions, we are asking the community to answer the call in this effort against a deadly enemy."
The company has provided a template to make a homemade mask cover to donate to health-care systems, essential workers or anyone that may be at increased risk. Anyone with the skillset to make these masks or supplies needed to produce them is encouraged to join the movement.
The pattern for the face mask cover may be downloaded via Dropbox:https://www.dropbox.com/s/99786wxopic43dh/Mask-Instructions.pdf?dl=0.
Anyone interested in making handmade masks in support of country's efforts against COVID-19 may email the company directly at rosieup@rriveter.com.
In addition to pattern development and mobilization efforts, R.Riveter has dedicated its newly opened facility in southwest Florida to producing much needed PPE, such as masks and gowns.
The facility, which has been deemed essential to efforts fighting the virus, houses a rare cutting table, presently in high demand, officials said.
Largely an ecommerce brand, the company has a second retail location in Southern Pines, N.C.
The company's network of riveters originally was devised as a means of providing flexible mobile income to military spouses.
Completed mask covers may be donated directly to a facility of the volunteers' choice or mailed to the attention of Rosie, Volunteer Riveter Nation at R.Riveter, 1049 South Florida Avenue, Wauchula, FL 33873.
Health-care organizations in need of donations should contact the company via email to request assistance and provide any donation requirements and considerations.
The company also has asked anyone who has unopened PPE, such as face masks or gloves, to consider donating the items to a local hospital. Additionally, the company will accept anonymously mailed PPE at the Florida facility.
For more details about the company's COVID-19 response, visit www.rriveter.com/masks.
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