Medical gown, manufactured by Private White VC, in 2020, as part of their government contract to produce PPE for the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The clothing manufacturer Private White V.C., based in Cottenham House factory on the banks of the River Irwell in Salford, was established in 1853. Their clothing has been worn by royalty, politicians, musicians, actors, and sporting greats. Not solely a fashion brand, they supplied the Allied forces with trench coats in WW1 and troops with parkas during WW2. They are now known for their upmarket, traditional British styles, all made in Salford.
When COVID-19 hit in 2020, the Private White V. C. factory ceased clothing production for the first time since WW2. However, the employees and machines did not stay still for long. In the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a very real possibility that the UK could run out of essential personal protective equipment (PPE) Private White V. C. quickly used its production skills learned from its long history of creating classic men’s clothing to produce medical-grade gowns and face masks. In the summer of 2020 Private White V.C. was awarded two contracts to produce PPE exclusively for the NHS. With a £1.4 million loan from Greater Manchester Combined Authority, they scaled up their production to fulfil these PPE contracts.
The medical gowns were made in Private White V.C’s Cottenham House factory in Salford. This diversification in production made financial sense to the company. Private White V.C provided an extra 50 full-time jobs to local people during the pandemic. When the contracts were fulfilled, they stopped producing medical gowns.
Details
- Category:
- Textile Industry
- Object Number:
- 2022-271
- Materials:
- blended polycotton (cotton (fibre) and polyester)
- Measurements:
-
overall (estimate): 1600 mm x 250 mm x 5 mm,
- type:
- medical gown
- credit:
- Gift of Private White VC