LA VERGNE, TN, March 30, 2020, SVP Worldwide, the owner of the SINGER^®, Pfaff^®, and Husqvarna^® Viking^® sewing brands, is supporting initiatives to create masks for medical workers who are on the front lines fighting COVID-19.  SVP Worldwide is donating machines, instructions, patterns, and space for sewists and crafters who want to contribute their time and skillset.
 
“Our world is navigating through a difficult time and our company, just like the rest of the world, has been impacted. However, that is not stopping us from getting involved and doing the right thing.  We are in a unique position to help during this challenging time. Although we are not a manufacturer of medical supplies, we can still recognize the vital role that our products and services can have in supporting the healthcare community” says CEO Carl-Martin Lindahl.
 
SVP Worldwide has stepped up to the challenge and is helping hospitals and organizations in a range of ways.

• Donating sewing machines around the world
• Providing instructions on how to sew
• Providing mask patterns

 
We are also proud to say that our trade partners are doing the same including our Dealers, Distributors, and JOANN stores.
 
SVP Worldwide recently donated 20 SINGER^® sewing machines and sergers to Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital in Albany, GA (one of the hardest-hit hospitals in Georgia with COVID-19). The hospital was in need of sewing machines for a group of volunteers and employees sewing masks, mask-covers, face shields, and other essential supplies that are in high demand for their health-care workers.  This was just one example of the donations that  SVP Worldwide has made globally.
 
In another effort to support healthcare workers on the front line, SVP Worldwide is partnering with Old Time Pottery, a regional home essentials retailer.   SVP Worldwide donated SINGER^® Heavy Duty sewing machines, needles, and thread for the Old Time Pottery workspaces set up for sewists and crafters who want to contribute their time and skillset making masks.  Additionally, SVP Worldwide supported JOANN employees in their headquarters with 40 SINGER^® Heavy Duty sewing machines to sew masks and gowns for healthcare workers.
 
Rightfully Sewn^® (rightfullysewn.org) has created a mask sewing initiative in Kansas City, Missouri.  When their atelier closed due to COVID-19,  SVP Worldwide donated SINGER^® Heavy Duty sewing machines and sergers for seamstresses to sew masks from multiple
offsite locations that allow for social-distancing.  This is another example of SVP Worldwide’s commitment to supporting sewing initiatives for our healthcare workers during COVID-19.  Additional donors have provided matching funds to purchase materials, facilitating mask donations to local community hospitals.
 
In addition to these organizations, SVP Worldwide is working with other smaller local organizations to help the fight against COVID-19.
 

• Lakeshore Lamp Shades of Meridian, Mississippi turned their lampshade manufacturing into a face mask manufacturing plant overnight.  SVP Worldwide donated SINGER® Heavy Duty sewing machines to help with their efforts.

• SVP Worldwide donated SINGER®  Heavy Duty sewing machines to Williamson County Medical Center in Franklin, TN to help their many volunteers make the needed face mask to help protect their healthcare workers on the frontlines.

• When Governor Cuomo of NYC asked for help in making face masks, fashion designer Christian Siriano jumped in and started producing them with his team of sewists.  SVP Worldwide was enlisted by the Project Runway winner, Christian Siriano to donate SINGER® sewing machines and sergers to help in his efforts during COVID-19 to help save lives.

 
We now invite you to help support our mission by contacting your local hospitals to coordinate supply efforts and volunteering your time and sewing skills by making face masks, gowns, and face shields. In settings where facemasks are not available, health care professionals (HCP) might use homemade masks for the care of patients with COVID-19 as a last resort. However, homemade masks are not considered PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), since their capability to protect HCP is unknown. Caution should be exercised when considering this option. Homemade masks should ideally be used in combination with a face shield that covers the entire front (that extends to the chin or below) and sides of the face. For more information and official CDC guidance on homemade masks, visit https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/ppe-strategy/face-masks.html
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html
 
Together we are #sewunited.
#itstartswithastitch #sewcialdistancing #stitchesuniteus #stayhome
 
 
ABOUT SVP
SVP Worldwide, doing business through SVP-Singer Holdings, Inc. and its affiliates, is the world’s largest consumer sewing machine company, accounting for approximately one out of every three sewing machines sold globally.  The company and its three iconic brands - SINGER^®, PFAFF^®, and HUSQVARNA^® VIKING^® - have collectively delighted consumers for over 450 years. These premium brands and products are regarded as the choice for serious sewers and novice crafters.
 
The company’s corporate headquarters is located near Nashville, TN and is supplemented by regional headquarters and sales offices located in Milan (Italy), São Paulo (Brazil), and Sydney (Australia) that, combined, reach consumers in more than 180 countries. SVP Worldwide has manufacturing facilities across Asia and Latin America, multiple R&D centers, a software development center in Europe and a global supply chain with distribution centers in all regions. The products are sold across a network of sewing machine dealers, mass retailers, online retailers, specialty retailers, distributors, and through the company’s ~200 internally-operated retail stores.