Parent company of Coach using 3D printing capabilities to help healthcare workers

Tapestry is making additional investments in community support initiatives amid the ongoing COVID-19 health crisis.

The parent company of Coach and Kate Spade announced an employee-initiated volunteer program to repurpose Tapestry’s existing 3D printers to support healthcare professionals. The initiative includes the printing of disposable parts required for respirators and ventilators, test swabs, and face shields.

In addition, resources will be made available to create 3D printed parts for R&D prototypes needed by engineers and specialists working on COVID-19 related development projects. The initiative is being coordinated with various 3D printing industry bodies, along with the NIH 3D Print Exchange and 3D printing companies.

The 3D program is one of several initiatives that Tapestry announced on Thursday. They are on top of the retailer’s previously announced $2 million commitment to support New York City small businesses. 

The Coach Foundation will commit:
•    $200,000 to support COVID frontline assistance charities in the United Kingdom, Spain, Italy, France, and Germany selected by Tapestry’s European employees;
•    $200,000 to CFDA’s A Common Thread COVID response; and
•    $50,000 to the British Fashion Council COVID response through the Foundation’s Fund at CAF America.

The Coach brand will be donating product with a retail value of over $3.5 million to COVID-19 related charities and impacted individuals.

Separately, the kate spade new york foundation, will be donating:

• $100,000 to partner Crisis Text Line to fund the #Forthefrontlines Initiative which will provide crisis counseling and emotional support to doctors and nurses who are feeling the immediate, and ongoing, effects of the heavy stress as they face this crisis head on. This program will be operational in the U.S., United Kingdom, Ireland and Canada.

• An additional $100,000 to ten existing grantees (who will receive $10,000 each) to provide short-term emergency funding needs inclusive of: technology needs, virtual programming adaptation, covering missed revenue and emergency needs of each nonprofit.