At the forefront of this health crisis linked to the coronavirus, caregivers, police and cashiers lack a mask to protect themselves. To overcome the shortage, small hands, federated via a Facebook group are mobilizing to sew masks and distribute them. Raphaëlle Mat, at the origin of this initiative, was the guest of Europe 1, Saturday.

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"I federated a whole small army of resistant seamstresses," says Raphaëlle Mat. Contacted by Europe 1, on Saturday, this maternal assistance and founder of Couturières solidaires, explained how her idea of ​​sewing protective masks for the most exposed to coronavirus turned to the momentum of national solidarity.

These are alternative masks, the manufacture and wearing of which are now encouraged, in particular by the Director General of Health, Jérôme Salomon. Alternative because neither surgical nor FFP2. Masks made of fabric according to a very particular model which the seamstresses sew relentlessly to alleviate the shortage of which the health professionals are mainly victims.

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"I saw the mountain of requests that was coming"

Until now, the model to follow for sewing these masks was that shared by the Grenoble University Hospital. "Now we are on the Afnor standard which validates handmade masks," explains Raphaëlle Mat, with reference to the French Association for Standardization, an organization representing France in particular to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). "We have followed the movement and we have adapted to this new standard," she adds.

"On" is a whole team of seamstresses, professional or amateur, federated throughout France by Raphaëlle Mat via a Facebook page. "It came to me because I saw the mountain of requests that was coming, and the small hill of seamstresses that we were," she says. "I told myself that this hill had to get bigger".

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"We need seamstresses ... and fabric"

For three weeks, these seamstresses (and some seamstresses) have been sewing 15 to 17 hours a day in the shade, explains the maternal assistant at the origin of the initiative. The made-up masks are distributed to firefighters, police, nurses' offices, hospitals, general practitioners, supermarket cashiers, nursing homes, carers ... "Everyone needs them ", insists Raphaëlle Mat, evoking a project which generates" a lot of affection and love between the people who will wear the masks and those who create them ".

Although already numerous, new seamstresses would not be too many in view of the colossal needs in protective equipment that face the frontline actors in this health crisis. "We need seamstresses ready to use their sewing machine as a weapon of massive resistance," says Raphaëlle Mat, who also calls on prefects, mayors and fabric stores to release budgets. "We have no more tissue," she warns. "We've been sewing for three weeks day and night, we need help."

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