Tom Ford and Anna Wintour join hands for a fashion rescue fund

The fashion industry is doing its best to protect young designers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. ‘A Common Thread’ is an initiative where fashion powerhouses Tom Ford and Anna Wintour have come together, to “raise both awareness and needed funds for those in the American fashion community who have been impacted”.

Through it, the designers, manufacturers, patternmakers and seamstresses will receive funds to help them with their businesses. Applications to apply will begin on April 8. Those interested need to submit videos with the hashtag #cyffacommonthread, explaining how they have been affected by the virus, and upload them online to be featured.

As reported by The New York Times, the fund will offer $700,000 to the winner and two runners-up. “There is no reason that we’re not at some point going to be hitting up larger companies for bigger contributions,” Ford said in an interview. “It will really depend on what happens after all this is over. If it only lasts three months, I think we’ll be able to raise more money than if it drags on and on.”