Today, the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation announced that it will be donating $10 million to help those affected by the virus. The funds will be split across different causes, including the Emergency Assistance Foundation, the World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund, and more.
“Now more than ever, in this time of need, supporting each other has become our mission,” Ralph Lauren wrote in a press release posted to the brand’s site this morning, adding the company to the list of fashion’s biggest names joining the fight against the coronavirus.
Ralph Lauren will provide financial assistance to its employees through the Emergency Assistance Foundation for those “facing special circumstances like medical, eldercare or childcare needs.” As a legacy fashion brand, a portion of the money will also be donated to Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) / Vogue Fashion Fund for COVID-19—the brand’s “inaugural gift”—to “support the American fashion community impacted by the pandemic.”
“At the heart of our company, there has always been a spirit of togetherness that inspires our creativity, our confidence and most importantly our support for one another. In the past weeks and months, that spirit has never wavered,” Lauren, executive chairman and chief creative officer, said in a statement. “We believe that no matter who you are or where you are from, we are all connected. That is why we are taking significant action to help our teams and communities through this crisis.”
Over on Instagram, the brand announced that select Ralph Lauren stores will be shut down temporarily and employees will still be paid during the closure.
In addition to its hefty donation, Ralph Lauren is also preparing to produce medical-grade protective materials such as gowns and masks for frontline workers. According to WWD, the brand is working with its U.S. team to create 25,000 isolation gowns and 250,000 masks.