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Our incredible journey through a global pandemic as told by our CEO
Words by James Eden
It may seem the height of British understatement, but I think we can all agree it has been quite a year.
Primarily, it has been a year of loss. For most, a loss of liberty as we have stayed at home to control the virus; for others, a loss of livelihood as the economy has contracted. For some, of course, it has meant the loss of loved ones, which will be the enduring legacy of this pandemic.
It has also been a year of learning. Few of us were familiar with Zoom last January and had you’d ask me what an R-Rate was, I would have guessed it was a film unsuitable for family viewing.
At Private White V.C. we’ve been through a steep learning curve. Initially, we had to close our premises for the first time since the Second World War, which could have signalled not only the loss of many jobs, but also the end of textile manufacturing in Manchester.
Our route out of this difficult situation is a testament to the adaptability and resilience of our staff.
Ironically, the solution was offered by the pandemic itself as it soon became apparent that the United Kingdom had a chronic shortage of medical grade masks and surgical gowns. Hindsight can make decisions that appeared risky seem wise.
It now looks inspired that we bought the correct fabric to make gowns and were certified to make hospital grade clothing even before the British government started actively seeking PPE suppliers.
When they were, we were ready to go.
We swiftly expanded to produce surgical masks and, with the help of local government investment, we converted a former automotive garage complete with four sunken pits into a state-of-the-art ISO-grade Clean Room capable of producing over 150,000 masks a day.
Within days of Covid-19 rearing, we began working tirelessly not just in retooling our own factory in Manchester but also in nurturing, developing and training a community of like-minded makers who are all equally determined to do whatever they can to ensure the UK’s front-line medical personnel have the very best PPE available to them whenever and wherever it is required.
The Art of The Surgical Mask
Surgical masks are the most ubiquitous of face covering and certainly the most in demand by frontline healthcare workers. The masks are made up of three layers of non-woven materials all of which we source from Scotland. Externally there is a splash resistant or hydrophobic (blue) layer.
On the inside there is a hydrophilic (white) layer designed to absorb moisture and in the middle there is the highly coveted ‘melt-blown’ that offers an extremely sophisticated source of filtration.
All 3 layers are fixed together using an ultrasonic weld after which point they are cut by a rotating titanium blade to an exact length of 175mm.
Each mask, now homogenous and instantly recognisable as a pleated face covering is then transported down a series of conveyor belts secured on steel trays for elastic to be ultrasonically welded in each corner.
Each and every mask is subject to a stringent inspection by one of our quality controllers and anything less than perfect is rejected.
Given that these items are to be used in surgeries and ICUs across the country, each mask must conform to the highest international medical standards (BS EN:14683 to be exact) and we routinely appraise the production (several times each day) for Bacterial Filtration Efficiency, Differential Pressure, Splash Resistance and Microbial Cleanliness.
“We are extremely proud of what we have achieved in the face of such extreme adversity and uncertainty. Not only have we supplied the NHS with millions of the most urgently required PPE during a global pandemic we have also managed to create over 50 full time jobs in the region.”
JAMES EDEN, CEO & FOUNDER
Our joy of making things comes through in all our garments, be they masks or macs. Creating a gown is somewhat different to our Twin Track jacket, and, while a mistake using our Ventile® cotton can be costly, it is a different matter when you are using fabric bought with public funds and desperately needed by the NHS.
Chiefly we found it a relief to find a practical way to help during the crisis. How effective we have been is underlined by us now being one of the largest domestic suppliers of PPE, having just produced our twenty millionth item.
As a business that has steadfastly manufactured in the UK over the past 100 years we are extremely proud of what we have achieved in the face of such extreme adversity and uncertainty. Not only have we supplied the NHS with millions of the most urgently required PPE during a global pandemic we have also managed to create over 50 full time jobs in the region.
The fact that we have managed to do so using exclusively British-made materials is yet another source of great pride and immense satisfaction.
Pictured here are our very own unsung heroes, the dedicated team responsible for protecting millions of NHS frontline medical workers during the pandemic.
Richard, 37, Technician, a former Aircraft Engineer for Virgin Atlantic.
“I’m proud to be doing my part for the NHS and helping to stop the spread of the virus.”
Rachel. 28, Packer and Operator.
“I’m honoured and full of pride to have had the chance to work through the pandemic providing PPE to our frontline workers.”
In tandem with our government work, after a few weeks we were also able to start producing our Private White V.C. clothing again. Without this, we simply would not have survived.
That we have been able to do so is entirely due to customers such as you. Even while our shops in Manchester and London were forced to shut, it was a delight and a relief to see how many of you found us online. It has been a revelation for me just how much support you have shown.
In recognition, I would like to take this opportunity to offer you a 20% discount on our Spring ‘21 range, which is our boldest, most ambitious, and important collection to date.
Please enter code JEDEN2021 at the checkout.
I have shared our experiences at Private White V.C. purely to express my gratitude for your ongoing support, together with a hope that, as we return to something akin to normality, we learn from what this last year has taught us. I trust that for the rest of 2021 and beyond, you and your loved ones enjoy success, health and happiness.
Warm Regards,
CEO & Founder
Photography and Video: Alex Winton
Our incredible journey through a global pandemic as told by our CEO
Words by James Eden
It may seem the height of British understatement, but I think we can all agree it has been quite a year.
Primarily, it has been a year of loss. For most, a loss of liberty as we have stayed at home to control the virus; for others, a loss of livelihood as the economy has contracted. For some, of course, it has meant the loss of loved ones, which will be the enduring legacy of this pandemic.
It has also been a year of learning. Few of us were familiar with Zoom last January and had you’d ask me what an R-Rate was, I would have guessed it was a film unsuitable for family viewing.
At Private White V.C. we’ve been through a steep learning curve. Initially, we had to close our premises for the first time since the Second World War, which could have signalled not only the loss of many jobs, but also the end of textile manufacturing in Manchester.
Our route out of this difficult situation is a testament to the adaptability and resilience of our staff.
Ironically, the solution was offered by the pandemic itself as it soon became apparent that the United Kingdom had a chronic shortage of medical grade masks and surgical gowns. Hindsight can make decisions that appeared risky seem wise.
It now looks inspired that we bought the correct fabric to make gowns and were certified to make hospital grade clothing even before the British government started actively seeking PPE suppliers.
When they were, we were ready to go.
We swiftly expanded to produce surgical masks and, with the help of local government investment, we converted a former automotive garage complete with four sunken pits into a state-of-the-art ISO-grade Clean Room capable of producing over 150,000 masks a day.
Within days of Covid-19 rearing, we began working tirelessly not just in retooling our own factory in Manchester but also in nurturing, developing and training a community of like-minded makers who are all equally determined to do whatever they can to ensure the UK’s front-line medical personnel have the very best PPE available to them whenever and wherever it is required.
The Art of The Surgical Mask
Surgical masks are the most ubiquitous of face covering and certainly the most in demand by frontline healthcare workers. The masks are made up of three layers of non-woven materials all of which we source from Scotland. Externally there is a splash resistant or hydrophobic (blue) layer.
On the inside there is a hydrophilic (white) layer designed to absorb moisture and in the middle there is the highly coveted ‘melt-blown’ that offers an extremely sophisticated source of filtration.
All 3 layers are fixed together using an ultrasonic weld after which point they are cut by a rotating titanium blade to an exact length of 175mm.
Each mask, now homogenous and instantly recognisable as a pleated face covering is then transported down a series of conveyor belts secured on steel trays for elastic to be ultrasonically welded in each corner.
Each and every mask is subject to a stringent inspection by one of our quality controllers and anything less than perfect is rejected.
Given that these items are to be used in surgeries and ICUs across the country, each mask must conform to the highest international medical standards (BS EN:14683 to be exact) and we routinely appraise the production (several times each day) for Bacterial Filtration Efficiency, Differential Pressure, Splash Resistance and Microbial Cleanliness.
“We are extremely proud of what we have achieved in the face of such extreme adversity and uncertainty. Not only have we supplied the NHS with millions of the most urgently required PPE during a global pandemic we have also managed to create over 50 full time jobs in the region.”
JAMES EDEN, CEO & FOUNDER
Our joy of making things comes through in all our garments, be they masks or macs. Creating a gown is somewhat different to our Twin Track jacket, and, while a mistake using our Ventile® cotton can be costly, it is a different matter when you are using fabric bought with public funds and desperately needed by the NHS.
Chiefly we found it a relief to find a practical way to help during the crisis. How effective we have been is underlined by us now being one of the largest domestic suppliers of PPE, having just produced our twenty millionth item.
As a business that has steadfastly manufactured in the UK over the past 100 years we are extremely proud of what we have achieved in the face of such extreme adversity and uncertainty. Not only have we supplied the NHS with millions of the most urgently required PPE during a global pandemic we have also managed to create over 50 full time jobs in the region.
The fact that we have managed to do so using exclusively British-made materials is yet another source of great pride and immense satisfaction.
Pictured here are our very own unsung heroes, the dedicated team responsible for protecting millions of NHS frontline medical workers during the pandemic.
Richard, 37, Technician, a previous self-employed Aircraft Engineer for Virgin Atlantic.
“I’m proud to be doing my part for the NHS and helping to stop the spread of the virus.”
Rachel. 28, Packer and Operator, previously worked at Fairfield Builders Supplies.
“I’m honoured and full of pride to have had the chance to work through the pandemic providing PPE to our frontline workers.”
In tandem with our government work, after a few weeks we were also able to start producing our Private White V.C. clothing again. Without this, we simply would not have survived.
That we have been able to do so is entirely due to customers such as you. Even while our shops in Manchester and London were forced to shut, it was a delight and a relief to see how many of you found us online. It has been a revelation for me just how much support you have shown.
In recognition, I would like to take this opportunity to offer you a 20% discount on our Spring ‘21 range, which is our boldest, most ambitious, and important collection to date.
Please enter code JEDEN2021 at the checkout.
I have shared our experiences at Private White V.C. purely to express my gratitude for your ongoing support, together with a hope that, as we return to something akin to normality, we learn from what this last year has taught us. I trust that for the rest of 2021 and beyond, you and your loved ones enjoy success, health and happiness.
Warm Regards,
CEO & Founder
Photography and Video: Alex Winton