Tate Papworth
A Kealba based drapery business on the cusp of financial ruin has turned things around and now it’s giving back.
Ideal Drape Makers has operated in Melbourne’s western suburbs for many years and seriously looked like just another business casualty due to the COVID-19 Pandemic currently sweeping the country.
The company was kept afloat largely thanks to the federal government’s job-keeper package, allowing business owner Nancy Vamvakas to keep her employees on.
Realising they needed to adapt, the team put their heads together and came up with a plan to protect the business and give back to the community at the same time.
“We have re-purposed our factory to enable us to manufacture reusable, washable cloth face masks utilising hundreds of rolls of remnant fabrics from across the world’s premier fabric houses, so each one is unique and very stylish,” Ms Vamvakas said.
“After a couple of weeks of testing prototypes, production is currently at 1,000 fabric face masks and we are rapidly closing in on 2,000 fabric face masks per week to help our community in the fight against COVID-19.”
Ms Vamvakas said she hopes to get the masks out to those performing essential services within the community.
“Whilst we make no medical claims about our beautiful masks, they will certainly help to stop the wearer from spreading anything and they’ll look very stylish too,” she said.
“We also want to donate our reusable, unique and completely sustainable face masks to the local ‘meals on wheels’ and charity organisations.”
Tate Papworth
