Fashion and textiles How UK textile factories are helping the NHS

International trade has allowed nations access to millions of products over the years, but the only problem is that during the lockdown, many countries have closed their borders and deliveries have become delayed.

This has caused issues for several businesses up and down the country, including our beloved NHS. Only recently there was an enormous delay from a shipment abroad that contained thousands of vital gowns for our frontline keyworkers. Thankfully, many UK businesses have been prepared to offer their services in a bid to help. 

The textile industry in Britain usually supplies a niche market, for most companies it is cheaper to source textiles and garments abroad but with borders closed our factories have picked up the slack to ensure our NHS staff are well protected.

When many factories across the country heard about the shortage of protective gowns in the NHS, they began rallying together to help out. As many textile factories have had to close their doors in recent years, this virus was bound to give the final blow to many. One company that closed its door when it lost its contract at the beginning of the pandemic, fortunately, revived itself when it was asked to make scrubs for NHS trusts in Berkshire.

It’s not just large factories that are helping those in need; thousands of citizens around the country are using the sewing machines and skills to help create smaller items, such as soft and comfortable headbands for nurses.

A lot of medical staff noticed that elastic masks were causing friction cuts behind the ears after extensive wearing, so knitting fanatics decided to create a strip with buttons on the ends to help reduce the pain. Now there is the threat of a shortage of the simple fabric masks as members of the public have been ordering their own masks. To prevent over usage of the much-needed medical-grade ones, people have been making their own using simple tutorials online.

Are you one of the people who have been hammering at your sewing machine in an effort to help our NHS keyworkers? You’ve enjoyed creating and dewing on a small scale, but now it is time to develop your skills and build a career in Fashion and Textiles. To find out more information about the fantastic courses on offer at the University of Bolton, click here.