Both indie and established brands are playing their part in fighting the virus’ spread.
Over the last few months, COVID-19 has turned the world upside down, halting life as we knew it, but in between the wall-to-wall news coverage and advice on flattening the curve, there have been some heart-warming stories about people, brands and companies all stepping forward in an effort to help make a difference.
And let's be honest, as we enter our second month of quarantine, we could all do with some cheering up! Whether it be signs of normality resuming in the worst-hit countries globally or centenarians beating the virus, the uplifting stories that emerge during these times help us to retain perspective that there are still positive things happening in the world.
When it comes to fashion and beauty, countless brands have heeded calls from health officials, not only to be vigilant but to help out as best they can in combating the coronavirus pandemic. Experts have warned us of the crippling effect that COVID-19 will have on the retail industry, not to mention the economy as a whole. However, that hasn't stopped brands – big and small - from playing their part.
While many UK-based brands haves created specific products whose sales will go to benefiting the NHS, much closer to home, M&S Ireland is working with the HSE to understand how, as a clothing and food retailer, it can best help meet some of the needs of the fantastic frontline teams and the patients in their care.
As a result of this collaboration, M&S will be making free weekly food donations to help feed the HSE heroes at The Mater Hospital, St James Hospital and Cork University Hospital. It will also donate much-needed pyjamas, clothing and toiletries to the City West self-isolation facility to help provide comfort for patients.
There's no denying that times are tough right now, but we're somewhat comforted by the reminder that we are all, in it together, and seeing the way various industry leaders are vowing to help, has certainly brought light to the darker days.
Keep scrolling for even more brands who have launched initiatives in an effort to help this global pandemic.
aldi
Tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12 is International Nurses Day which couldn't be more of a worthy day to celebrate those who are on the frontlines in an attempt to fight COVID-19. As a thank you to our nurses, Aldi Ireland will be honouring this day by selling an “Irish Nurses Thank You” Bouquet of flowers for €4.99 in all 142 stores, with 100% of proceeds going to Our Hospital Heroes.
Our Hospital Heroes is made up of a group of hospitals from all over Ireland, and funds raised will help hospitals to provide essential comforts to staff as they work on the frontline. Hospitals benefiting from this appeal are; The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, St. James’s Hospital, Beaumont Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, St Vincent’s University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital Cork, Cork University Hospital, Waterford University Hospital, Limerick University Hospital and Cavan General Hospital. For more information on Our Hospital Heroes, go to www.ourhospitalheroes.ie.
great lengths
Luxury hair extensions brand, Great Lengths has launched ‘Hairdos for Heroes’, an initiative that will offer free haircuts and blow-dries as a way of giving back to frontline workers. Hairdos for Heroes encourages salons throughout Ireland to dedicate one or two days to providing front line staff with a free cut and blow-dry when it is safe again for salons to open and resume service. The free pamper session will reward frontline staff for their amazing and selfless work during this time.
When COVID-19 is far behind us, and our frontline workers have had their chance to rest properly, Great Lengths wants to ensure their efforts are not forgotten and give them a chance to be pampered and preened by some of the country’s top hairstylists as a way to say thank you.
The campaign will take place nationally on Sunday, September 6 and Monday, September 7, and salons can select one or both day to participate. Salons can register their interest in participating by contacting Great Lengths directly on [email protected] Each participating salon will be listed on the dedicated Hairdos for Heroes web page here: https://www.greatlengths.com/en-gb/hairdos-for-heroes
BENETTI
Last week, Benetti launched 'Join The Fight' campaign in an attempt to raise much-needed funds for the fight against Coronavirus. 100 per cent of proceeds raised will be donated to the frontline in association with Heroes AID. For everyone who joins our support and donates, you will be entered into a Benetti giveaway worth €2,000. This will be broken down as follows:
1st Prize - €1,250 Wedding Package
2nd Prize - €500 Voucher
3rd Prize - €250 Voucher
Click here to donate now.
CARRAIG DONN
As a way to show their appreciation of our frontline workers, and those who are working tirelessly to keep people safe and well, Carraig Donn has donated at-home packages to the nursing staff of the Keith Shaw Ward in St James Hospital in Dublin.
nunaïa
Founder of the organic beauty brand, Nicola Connolly, has switched from her usual business of creating beautiful skincare, balms and superfood serums to hand sanitiser. What's more, for every bottle of hand sanitiser sold, Nunaïa will donate an additional 50% to healthcare providers in the local community. Formulated with 70% isopropyl alcohol to disinfect and sanitise hands according to WHO guidelines, its luxurious lightweight formula absorbs quickly, doesn't feel sticky and leaves your hands smelling great. Buy it here.
asos + klarna
Leading global payments and shopping provider Klarna has committed to supporting the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in its frontline response to COVID-19, by donating £1, $1 or €1 for every Klarna transaction placed at ASOS globally on April 29. This dedicated “Giveback Day” will take place across the UK, Germany, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the United States, enabling Klarna and ASOS customers to take part in the ICRC’s relief efforts against the pandemic. Giveback day will help some of the world’s most vulnerable people, such as those living in countries affected by conflict.
BOOTS IRELAND
Recognising that social isolation poses many challenges for people and that a little bit of kindness can go a long way, Boots Ireland has announced that it is working closely with FAI to have medicines delivered to vulnerable patients all over the country. This new programme of activity will see over thirty FAI Community Development Officers volunteering their time, five days a week, to help Boots deliver prescription medicines to vulnerable patients and customers who may not be able to access their pharmacy for reasons such being in a vulnerable group, cocooning, etc, bolstering the work already underway with many local authorities. To avail of the service, patients or a family member simply need to call their local Boots pharmacy for more information. A store locator for contact details can be found here.
L'Oreal
In ongoing support of the fight against coronavirus, L’Oréal Ireland and its family of brands will donate 50,000 hygiene products and hand sanitisers to frontline healthcare workers serving the most vulnerable. The group will donate 27,000 hand sanitisers to the frontline pharmacy and grocery staff that are ensuring the availability of essential goods and services to communities across Ireland.
Anine Bing
The L.A. based womenswear brand has just announced the production and donation of 10,000 non-medical masks to the American Red Cross and Global Red Cross Network.
penneys
As a thank you to all those working on the frontline in a bid to fight against Coronavirus, Penneys is donating 6,000 care packs filled with over 45,000 products including leggings, T-shirts, underwear, socks, and pyjama sets for HSE frontline workers and patients in several hospitals across Ireland, all of which are boxed and delivered by Penneys volunteers. What's more, they will also be offered to patients who have no means of getting a fresh change of clothes or toiletries from home. So far, care packs have been distributed to 21 hospitals in Ireland including the Mater Hospital, Tallaght University Hospital, Sligo University Hospital, Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, Naas General Hospital, Letterkenny University Hospital, Beaumont Hospital and Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda, as well as patients at the Citywest facility which was set up at Citywest Hotel and Conference Centre to treat people with Covid-19.
RIXO
Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey, co-founders of influencer-favourite RIXO, have released a special, 'Stay Home' shirt with 10% of all profits from online sales going to the charity Age UK and 50% of profits going to NHS Charities.
Chinti And Parker
The English brand created has a specific Hearts for the NHS range, which vows to donate 100% of profits to the Meals for the NHS charity. Holly Willoughby has already shown her support, posting a jumper from the collection to her Instagram.
Glossier
In the U.S., Emily Weiss & Co. have donated thousands of Glossier balms, face mists, and moisturizers to frontline teams, and ahead of the launch of their very first hand cream launch next week, 100,000 of the first samples made will be going to the hands that need the care most right now.
Spotlight Oral Care
As a gesture to thank the HSE workers working around the clock, caring for patients with COVID-19, Spotlight Oral Care sent out care packages of their Toothpaste for Total Care & Bamboo Toothbrushes to staff members in various hospitals across Ireland.
Tiffany & Co.
The luxury jewellery brand has pledged 1 million dollars to global COVID-19 relief. Tiffany & Co's donation will be split between the World Health Organization's COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and The New York Community Trust's NYC COVID-19 Response and Impact Fund.
Gucci
As a brand hailing from one of the worst-hit countries, Gucci has chosen to support two crowdfunding campaigns supporting the coronavirus relief effort by donating €1m to each of them. One campaign will help locally to support the Italian Civil Protection Department, while the other will help globally, supporting the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 solidary response fund.
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