Period Corsets Pivots Business During Pandemic

When the pandemic hit this year, Period Corsets faced the same harsh reality that the rest of the world was thrown into. Loss of jobs, loss of lives and loss of our beloved theatres and film industry (two of our largest customer bases), greatly impacting our lively-hood and our mental well-being. We witnessed the lack of PPE for our health care workers on the front lines and made a quick decision that we would run into action and do what we could with the skills and labor and machinery that we had at our fingertips. Our business made an immediate pivot from historical costumes to PPE for hospitals and masks for individuals. Since that time, we have continued to balance constructing corsets and historical undergarments along with making cotton face masks. Because of this addition of protective wear, we have been able to keep our doors open and help our community at the same time. Read on about this amazing journey…

The Period Corsets team and oh so many PPE masks!

Below is an excerpt of a great article written about us by Sabrina Notarfrancisco for USITT’s Theatre and Design Technology Magazine, Spring 2020.

A Seattle-based company specializing in historical undergarments, Period Corsets recently transitioned from corset-making to mask-making as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. “After suffering a steep decline in sales when theatre and film studios across the country were forced to shut down, owner Hilary Specht converted her small business into a mask-making assembly line as a way to assist in the crisis while keeping her business and employees afloat. It seemed like the obvious solution since she had the space, equipment, and skilled labor, but finding mask specifications and buyers was a challenge, “ writes colleague Sabrina Notarfrancisco, associate professor at Connecticut College.

Head corset guru O’Rion stitches away

Owner, Hilary Specht, hard at work

“When the outbreak began, “ Notarfrancisco continued, “there was a chaotic amount of information surrounding the efficacy of masks and their construction. No one could agree on what type of hand-made mask was best and there were concerns that cotton masks might do more harm than good.” Furthermore, finding health-care systems willing to accept handmade masks from small businesses also proved difficult, a frustrating discovery given the health sector’s urgent need for personal protection equipment. As Specht researched ways to keep her business viable, she and her team volunteered to make masks from home.

PPE in progress

After two weeks of intensive research, a break finally came when Specht discovered a video by Kaas Tailored, a Washington-based upholstery company-turned mask manufacturer. The company successfully transitioned into a mask-making operation after Providence Health and Services contacted the company for help. Happy to outsource, Kaas Tailored offered Period Corsets pre-cut sterilization wrap kits in exchange for 1,200 finished masks per day, but this daily quota proved too large for Specht’s five-person team. On the upside, the upholstery company generously shared its hospital-approved mask pattern and materials list with Specht and encouraged her to source her own supply of Halyard H600, a type of sterilization wrap with a high bacterial infiltration efficiency. Unfortunately, this too, was met with obstacles. As Specht was setting up an account with Medline Industries, the company abruptly halted their sale of the product.

Masks kits came to us in multiple stacks of 100. Each layer had to be separated from the stack, including all of those straps!

Throughout her search, Specht frequently consulted with Seattle Opera Costume Director and former Period Corsets owner, Susan Davis, who was also researching ways to keep her shop staff employed. After several twists and turns, Specht finally secured a deal to manufacture 500 masks per day using pre-cut wrap kits supplied by the Seattle-based Lighthouse Uniform Company. Similarly, Davis transformed Seattle Opera’s costume shop into a mask-making production line after connecting directly with Providence St. Joseph Health. Davis continues to connect businesses and people with crucial resources needed to meet the urgent demand for PPE in the Seattle area.

It takes the Period Corsets team an average of two minutes to stitch one hospital-grade disposable mask…As of this printing, Period Corsets dedicates 20 hours per week making masks and uses the rest of the time filling remaining corset orders.

In addition to making masks for hospitals, Period Corsets has begun selling cotton masks made from petticoat off-cuts in its Etsy shop. Specht was initially hesitant to sell cotton masks due to the false sense of security they might give to users. However, after Washington State Governor Jay Inslee recommended the widespread use of cloth masks to help limit the spread of COVID-19, the team ramped up production.

After Specht was finally able to convert Period Corsets into a mask-making shop, she celebrated by uploading some witty, World War II-inspired “V is for Victory” posts on her Facebook and Instagram pages. in the videos, she and her team wear victory rolls in their hair (fashioned from empty toilet paper rolls) as they industrially sew hospital-grade masks at safe, 6-foot distances. Although the video is comedic, Specht’s victory cries are heartfelt and poignant.

Article written by Sabrina Notarfrancisco for USITT’s Theatre and Design Technology Magazine, Spring 2020. Thanks to Notarfrancisco and USITT for the spotlight and support!