Local bespoke tailor Meiko Tailor is shutting down for a month from 7 April, keeping with the measures imposed by Singapore but it had been work-as-usual for the firm till then – making reusable masks and giving them out for free.
The firm is an example of a local apparel company that has quickly shifted operations to produce fabric masks to combat the spread of COVID-19.
Meiko Tailor’s efforts could see it being classified as an essential service, which means it can continue running during the nationwide suspension of non-essential services from 7 April to 4 May, wrote Ms Sim Ann, Senior Minister of State for Communications and Information and for Culture, Community and Youth, in a Facebook post on Saturday .
“I know that others in the garment industry have started similar projects. If your company is among them, you could be deemed as providing essential services,” said Ms Sim, who is Holland-Bukit Timah MP.
The Textile & Fashion Federation (Singapore) said companies that wish to produce masks on their premises during the suspension period may register their details online.
“Meanwhile, safe distancing measures must be put in place and companies which had signed up to produce masks to operate their work space during the suspension period shall produce only masks,” the federation said.
Ms Adele Chung, daughter of master tailor Chung Chi Kwong who handles overall marketing operations for Meiko Tailor, said the firm is trying to reach out to logistics and Grab delivery drivers or riders, who would be out and about during the period.
Another bespoke tailor, CYC, is also on a similar drive, with managing director Fong Loo Fern saying the company wanted to provide 200,000 reusable masks to foreign workers in Singapore.
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Source: The Straits Times, 5 April 2020