Barbour to make protective gear at South Shields factory

By

Barbara Santamaria

Published
Apr 9, 2020

Heritage brand Barbour has started producing personal protective equipment (PPE) to support NHS Trusts in the North East. 

The company, favoured by the Royal family and celebrities, is working with the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) to make an initial quantity of disposable gowns, which will be delivered on Friday. 

A larger-scale production of gowns and scrubs will begin next week to support frontline medical staff at the RVU and other North East Trusts in the coming weeks.

Barbour said this is not the first time the factory has had to adapt in the name of national interest.  During both World Wars, the North East-based firm turned the factory over to making military garments for the Submarine Service and the British Army. 

Chairman Margaret Barbour said “Everyone has a role to play in fighting Covid-19 and I wanted my daughter Helen and I to play our part by turning our South Shields factory over to produce PPE product for the NHS. 

“Our staff’s welfare is our most important priority and we have undertaken a strict risk assessment to ensure we adhere to social distancing and that they are fully protected whilst undertaking this important role. I am very grateful to my staff for their overwhelming support.”

Various clothing brands are responding to the global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), including H&M, Zara, Gap and Mango. A group of independent fashion designers in London have also recently established an Emergency Designer Network to work with manufacturers to make medical masks.