While in the spring, France suffered from a lack of masks in the face of the coronavirus epidemic, the country is now crumbling under stocks, in particular of reusable fabric masks that 400 textile companies have started to manufacture at a high rate from the start of containment. But the French seem to favor disposable masks imported from Asia, which have also arrived en masse on the territory. A situation which weakens certain textile companies, which had reconverted their production equipment to meet demand.
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"Since March 20, we have produced 4.5 million masks, and we have had orders cancellations in the last few weeks which leave us 100,000 masks on our arms", explains Dominique Seau, CEO of Eminence, a famous brand underwear, pajamas and swimwear. If its stock will eventually run out, other textile companies, competing with massive imports of disposable masks, are facing unsold products on a much larger scale.
Manufacturers are banking on raising awareness among the French
In total, 20 million fabric masks manufactured in recent months in France have, to date, not found a buyer and are weighing on the treasury. To the point, says Yves Dubief, president of the Union des industries textiles, to put several actors in a delicate situation. "There are some concerns for some companies, which both have a large stock of masks, and which have not found in their core business an activity consistent with what they knew before the Covid crisis", confirms he does.
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The situation may be changing with the obligation now to wear a mask in all enclosed public spaces. Manufacturers are betting on raising awareness among the French, hoping that they will favor their fabric masks, washable and reusable, rather than disposable masks, more convenient, of course, but whose devastation on the environment is beginning to be seen.