Anna Wintour has shared the emotional response she experienced after finding out Ralph Lauren donated $10m to fighting coronavirus.
On Monday, the Vogue editor-in-chief published an op-ed for the outlet, in which she reflected on the “pure joy” she felt upon learning of all the ways the fashion industry has stepped up to help in the battle against the virus.
“Positivity is such a precious commodity right now, but I felt something close to pure joy in recent days,” Wintour wrote, before explaining that she “broke down” when speaking to Lauren on the phone.
“My emotions, like yours I’m sure, are fairly close to the surface, but I’m not afraid to admit that I broke down on the phone with Ralph when he called to give me the incredible news about his gift,” she continued.
Wintour also discussed the generosity of other designers such as Giorgio Armani, DonatellaVersace, and Marco Bizzarri, the CEO of Gucci, as well as luxury goods conglomerate LVMH, which has been manufacturing hand sanitisers.
“American fashion and beauty companies have been mobilising too, making masks, gowns and hand sanitiser,” Wintour said. “I have never been more proud of our industry.”
Last week, it was reported that American fashion designer Christian Siriano was making face masks for healthcare workers, while American fashion retailer Nordstrom announced it would be sewing more than 100,000 masks to be distributed among hospital staff.
The fashion editor touched on the power of this positivity in the face of the ongoing pandemic - and the human connections that have been forged - and how she expects it will be “impossible to take these connections for granted once this is behind us”.
According to Wintour, the current climate of social distancing and quarantining has also led to a period of creativity for designers, who have been able to share videos in support of A Common Thread, a CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund that supports American designers who are struggling because of the coronavirus.
Wintour concluded the article reiterating that this is a moment of “reflection, generosity and a shared sense of humanity,” before reminding people to continue to stay home and be safe.
