LVMH announced that it will order 40 million masks from a Chinese supplier to aid the French medical system while coping with the coronavirus pandemic.
In a statement on Saturday, the largest global luxury group disclosed that the first order of 10 million masks will be delivered to France in the next few days. The group issued a press release this morning, stating that, “This initial batch is reserved for the French health service and will be available for distribution by early next week for those in need.”
The conglomerate reached an agreement with the French government for the rest of the order, which will be funded by the state and should be delivered over the coming weeks. This news follows LVMH’s effort to directly aid the French medical system. Earlier, the group announced that it would be producing and delivering hand sanitizer to French hospitals, free of charge.
Back in January 2020, LVMH, the parent company of fashion brands such as Louis Vuitton, Celine and Fendi, donated 1 million Chinese RMB ($140,000) to the Chinese Red Cross Foundation. The funds went towards aiding the medical supply shortage in Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus outbreak originated.
With this initiative, the group’s philanthropic efforts come full circle. LVMH is among various fashion companies, Prada and Versace included, working to contribute to the global health-care system at this time of need. This effort comes as the death toll continues to rise in France, and around the world, with the French Air Force now moving patients out of eastern France to ease the pressure on overcrowded hospitals there.
