Crowell & Moring Advises Garment District for Gowns Organization Aiding COVID-19 Efforts

New York – April 20, 2020: Crowell & Moring is advising Garment District for Gowns, a new nonprofit organization created to manufacture and provide medical gowns to hospitals and healthcare workers on the front lines of battling the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization is comprised of independent professionals in the fashion industry, including designers, product developers, pattern makers, and sewers. Their combined skills and resources, including relationships with factories in New York City’s Garment District, have enabled this effort.

The organization financed its first batch of 300 gowns within its first week and donated them to a New York City hospital in early April, and subsequently made an additional 1,000 gowns. GDG is currently ramping up production with the goal of producing 10,000-unit batches per week, while expanding to multiple factories in New York City and one in Baltimore. In addition, GDG recently received a nearly half a million dollar grant from the state of New York to immediately scale up their production. The organization has stayed in close contact with Gov. Cuomo’s office, the FDA, New York State Department of Health, Tri-State area hospitals, fire departments, and ambulance departments to coordinate on distribution.

GDG has been featured in InStyle, People, and the HuffPost, and several companies have donated materials to help the effort. The organization has set up a fundraising page and also seeks factory spaces and volunteer sewers, as well as thread and fabric donations. 

Crowell & Moring is advising GDG on a pro bono basis on multiple financial, regulatory, compliance, tax, and governance issues. 

Click to visit Garment District for Gowns’ Instagram and Facebook pages.