Specialty Fabrics Review August 2020 - 31

Jones says. "One of our customers reached
out, looking for isolation gowns."
With a staff of 10 to 20 employees and
home sewers, SewLong makes custom
covers and upholstery for boats, RVs,
specialty vehicles and outdoor furniture.
According to Jones, the company pivoted
to making PPE in fear of not having its
regular business. "Now, regular business
is coming back with a fury," he adds.
To keep up with demand, SewLong
partnered with sister company Jack's Do
It Shop & Upholstery, added five sewing
machines and fired up an old unused
bartacker. So far, the company has made
more than 3,000 washable 200-denier
nylon and polyester gowns, polyurethane
coated for water repellency.
The gown specifications were worked
out with colleagues in the industry.
"Everyone is sharing," Jones says.
"Marine fabricators are very open."
In addition to gowns, SewLong has
made more than 5,000 medical/surgical
masks using polypropylene spunbond
nonwoven fabric. The pleated design
can also be worn over a respirator for
additional coverage.
Half the those masks were donated to
the Navajo Nation, which led the U.S. in
COVID-19 cases per capita, and various
other local health-care and business
entities. All of SewLong's PPE sales have
come through Facebook, and the company
has committed to continue to donate a
minimum of 20 percent of the face masks
it manufactures.
The company looks at its PPE business as
a way to "help with the demand and provide
hope and work for our team," rather than a
profit center. "We will go forward as long as
there is demand," Jones says.
Debra Cobb is a freelance writer with extensive
experience in the textile industry. She is based
in North Carolina.

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Specialty Fabrics Review August 2020

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