Stories
Stories
Sewn with Love

Photo by GION Studio
When Kikka Hanazawa (MBA 2002), CEO of VPL, a women’s underwear and athleisure company, heard stories of the shortages of personal protective equipment for front-line medical workers faced with the coronavirus crisis, the fashion-industry leader began to research the breakdown in the medical-gown supply chain. The gowns were produced by a tight circle of manufacturers that had begun to shut down as a result of COVID-19. “The system works very well when the demand is stable,” notes Hanazawa. It was clear, however, that the supply chain was anything but stable at the moment.
So in March 2020, Hanazawa, who also founded Fashion Girls for Humanity (FGFH), a nonprofit that provides humanitarian services and funds to victims of natural disasters, began to study a medical gown given to her by a friend in the medical profession. She broke it down, rebuilt it, and put all of the information—from material to construction—in a YouTube video, in hopes she could rally her fashion-industry network. The video went viral with 170,000 views, from 170 countries; and just like that, medical-gown production became homegrown.
As the video took off, FGFH partnered with Humans from Home, a nonprofit established to mobilize the American workforce quarantined at home, and began offering their MadeByUS kits that include everything—from assembly instructions to precut gown panels—for anyone with a sewing machine and knowledge of fabric patterns who was willing to help communities in need. FGFH also began raising funds to support small businesses within the fashion and garment industries that pivoted their manufacturing to create personal protective equipment and partnered with The RealReal, an e-commerce site for pre-owned luxury items, to sell face masks made by designers.
FGFH now also hopes big-name fashion icons and brands will expand their impact by doing what they do best: setting trends and making masks “cool.” VPL launched a mask line using kimono fabric Hanazawa had inherited from her family business in Japan. Louis Vuitton created a line, and Christian Siriano has done the same. “I'm hoping that fashion has a role in inspiring people. Great designs can do that,” says Hanazawa.
Support the next generation of leaders Make a gift nowPost a Comment
Related Stories
-
- 12 Apr 2013
- New York Times
In Push for Gender Equality, Breaking Down the Boardroom Door
Re: Beth Stewart (MBA 1982) -
- 01 Mar 2007
- Alumni Stories
The Plight of the Global Poor
Re: Gustavo Herrero (MBA 1976); By: Garry Emmons -
- 22 Apr 2021
- HBS Clubs
Leading for a Better World in Boston; Virtual Event Showcases Japan Fellowship
Re: James Driscoll (PLDA 15); David Harris (MBA 1984); Tom Tierney (MBA 1980); Ivy Jack (MBA 2004); Ann Fudge (MBA 1977); Tats Kawasaki (MBA 1995); David B. Yoffie (Max and Doris Starr Professor of International Business Administration); By: Margie Kelley -
- 01 Sep 2020
- HBS Alumni Bulletin
Making Democracy Work