BLOG: Collier and Robinson diversify its operation in-light of COVID-19

Oxfordshire is a vibrant county with a wealth of cultural heritage including Henley Royal Regatta – the best-known regatta in the world and a highlight of both the summer sporting calendar and the social season.

Spectators are thrilled by the racing ambience and colour thanks to the summery dresses and distinctive club blazers.

Based in Henley-on-ThamesCollier & Robinson would usually be busy making blazers for more than 300 institutions including the Henley Rowing Club and rowing clubs in the US Germany and Australia. But Creative DirectorKristie Shemilt has turned her attention to making scrubs and surgical gowns desperately needed by the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

Kristie initially crowdfunded for £8500 to make 700 sets of scrubs using a heavyanti-bacterial fabric. Having found a veritable army of sewers and drivers from across Oxfordshire and raised £18840 through the websiteover 1200 sets of scrubs have been delivered to the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

She is now setting-up a production line the Pavilion at Phyllis Court a private members’ club in Henleyto produce at least 3500 PPE surgical gowns for the hospital.

The larger space is needed to comply with social distancing. She thinks that it will take two to three weeks to complete the task using specialwater-retardant fabric that can be washed at 60 degrees. Her team will have to adapt their skills to work with different material efficiently without compromising the safety.

For both projects Kristie has given her timebusiness space and machine usage for free. Some of the seamstresses and cutters are also giving their time for free while others are receiving a very basic income to cover living expenses. The money raised from the website and paid by the hospital covers the cost of the fabric.

Collier & Robinson’s enterprise is another example of the positive contribution that Oxfordshire is making to support the NHS and the national response to the Coronavirus pandemic.

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Image via: www.collierandrobinson.co.uk