Charguers announces DTC website and partners with Marc Jacobs

Chargeurs*PCC Fashion Technologies has launched its first U.S. consumer-facing division, Lainiere Health & Wellness, as well as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce website offering the new divisions collection of protective face masks. The company also announced it is launching a partnership with Marc Jacobs and will donate anti-microbial material made by Lainiere Health & Wellness to the designer for his face mask collection, with 100 percent of the proceeds of sales benefiting UNICEF USA.

“As masks were becoming the new must-wear protective accessory, we at Chargeurs knew immediately that we needed to leverage our expertise and pivot our U.S. business so we could supply consumers and our brand partners with functional, fashionable mask options,” said Angela Chan, global president and managing director of Chargeurs*PCC Fashion Technologies, in a statement. “The interlinings we make are typically hidden inside garments, but they are a crucial part of fashion and are used to create a protective interior layer in high-quality face masks for the consumer market. We’re proud to now be partnering with Marc Jacobs to supply the brand with our anti-microbial products to be used in masks that will be sold to benefit UNICEF USA.”

The limited-edition Marc Jacobs face masks were designed using filters made with Lainiere Health & Wellness’ performance fabric, which reduces bacteria by 99 percent. The masks are made by hand in New York with upcycled materials from past Marc Jacobs collections. All proceeds from the sales of the Marc Jacobs masks will be donated to UNICEF USA to help the organization as it responds to COVID-19 and assists the most at-risk communities. Consumers can purchase the masks exclusively at MarcJacobs.com.

The launch of the new Lainiere Health & Wellness division represents Chargeurs’ first move into the consumer health and wellness space in the U.S. The company has long been a global B2B leader in the supply of interlinings. Since the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, Chargeurs has shifted a significant portion of its global textile production toward health and wellness–related protective equipment. To support U.S. manufacturing, Chargeurs will start producing face masks at its Troy, Ohio, factory in September.

The Lainiere Health & Wellness face mask collection includes a fashion performance line created by Chan, who has a background in fashion design. The collection includes 16 unique styles featuring luxurious fabrics such as lace and silk as well as hand-stitched embellishments, embroidery and sequins. The entire line of washable, reusable masks offers anti-bacterial and anti-odor properties. Prices for the women’s premium fashion performance collection, which is made in Italy, start at 29 dollars.