Fashion designer switches from wedding dresses to NHS scrubs

A fashion technician from Glasgow Caledonian University has switched from designing bespoke wedding dresses to mass-producing scrubs for the NHS to help in the fight against COVID-19. 

Rinaldo Girasoli, who works part-time at GCU, is using his spare time to cut and sew up to 10 sets a week after he temporarily closed his bridal fashion business. 

He is one of an army of designers who have signed up NHS Scotland - For the Love of Scrubs, a nationwide appeal set up to help address a shortage of medical scrubs. 

Rinaldo said: "I really wanted to do something to help and thought I have the machinery and the resources in my studio not being used and I wanted to contribute to this great cause. 

"I have family and friends who work in the NHS and I know what they go through day in and day out. It even made me question my own work at times, whether what I was doing was worthwhile or not. 

"It is a good feeling to be involved in a project like this, that is giving something back. It's a national effort and so many people are involved."​ 

Rinaldo has been working on his own in his design studio in Paisley, using fabric supplied by volunteers involved in the appeal. 

NHS Scotland - For the Love of Scrubs was set up on Facebook by the owners of Mirka Bridal Couture following a similar appeal in other parts of the UK. 

The appeal raised more than £10,000 in its first 48 hours and more than 1200 volunteers have offered their services. 

A team of regional coordinators deliver material to machinists across the country in response to requests from hospitals, GP practices, and health centres.