Published on April 30, 2020
In an article by Fox 5, Ferrara Manufacturing’s remarkable pivot from luxury clothing to producing personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic was highlighted. Mountains of medical-grade fabric replaced the vibrant cashmeres and silks typically used to craft high-end garments for brands like Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, as the NYC-based company answered the city’s urgent call for protective gowns.
Co-owner Gabrielle Ferrara compared the rapid shift to “just another runway show,” but one with far greater stakes. The company collaborated with over 40 suppliers to secure the high-demand materials needed for medical gowns, producing 30,000 units in just two weeks, with plans to quintuple that output.
Balancing a commitment to public health with worker safety, Ferrara Manufacturing implemented innovative measures like custom PVC dividers between workstations to ensure safe production.
Gabrielle emphasized the company’s shared sense of duty: “It feels really good to wake up every morning and know that we’re helping people.”
The story underscores Ferrara Manufacturing’s resilience and adaptability, embodying the strength of NYC’s garment industry in times of crisis.
