Clothing Corporation to Make Critically Needed Masks and Gowns

ENFIELD, CT — One of Enfield's largest businesses and its Manhattan-based parent corporation have announced their plans to substantially aid health care workers during the current new coronavirus pandemic.

Brooks Brothers, the nation's oldest men's clothier headquartered on Madison Avenue in New York City, has a support center and distribution center on Phoenix Ave. in Enfield. Information technology, finance, a call center, logistics, human resources, real estate, store planning and facilities are all based at the local site.

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On Monday, the company announced its response to the urgent call from the White House and other state and local leaders for medical supplies. Brooks Brothers is in the process of converting its New York, North Carolina and Massachusetts factories from manufacturing ties, shirts and suits to now making masks and gowns, according to a statement on its website.

"Brooks Brothers plans to use these facilities to produce up to 150,000 masks per day on an ongoing basis, to help increase access to protective gear for health care workers and others battling the spread of COVID-19 at the nation’s hospitals and other facilities. The company will also be producing gowns," according to the statement.

A message from chairman/CEO Claudio Del Vecchio reads:

We hope that you and your families are staying safe and doing everything you can to be well during this challenging time. The ongoing effects of COVID-19 have undoubtedly affected all of us.

Today we announced that starting this week, we will reopen all three of Brooks Brothers’ factories in the United States to commence production on urgently needed medical supplies, including surgical and non-surgical masks and hospital gowns. Over the past two weeks, our teams have been working diligently in direct collaboration with Federal, State and local government officials and many large hospital networks to ensure our product meets quality standards to protect the brave medical personnel on the front lines every day during this crisis.

We are quickly reconfiguring our factories so that Brooks Brothers can produce up to 150,000 masks per day. We plan to keep producing these supplies for as long as they are critically needed. We have brought many of our factory employees back to work, under rigorous safety standards, and we could not be prouder of their efforts to join in this very important cause.

It is undeniable that the retail industry, like many others, has been severely impacted by this global crisis. Brooks Brothers is no exception. While our stores remain closed and our corporate associates continue to work from home, we are doing all that we can to navigate the many challenges in front of us. We are making thoughtful and cautious decisions each day and taking action as the situation evolves.

That is why I have personally invested capital to help accelerate our mask and gown initiative. I want to ensure that we are able to help others in need, while also protecting the longevity of Brooks Brothers after we get through this crisis, together.

Over the past few weeks, I have seen our own employees exemplify our brand’s long-standing core values of History, Innovation, Fairness, Celebration and Relationships. I am deeply inspired by the dedication of our associates, especially in light of the impact this situation has caused globally. Our colleagues’ commitment to our customers, to our company and — most of all — to each other is the reason that Brooks Brothers has survived many of history’s greatest challenges for more than 200 years.

I am also grateful to you, our loyal customers, for continuing to stay with us during these difficult times. Your support of our brand and our business will help us weather this unprecedented and uncertain time together.