CANADIANS OF THE COVID-19 COMBO.
BACK TO SCHOOL UPCOMING LONG
WEEKEND.
>> I CAME HERE TO GET SOME
>> I CAME HERE TO GET SOME
MATERIAL TO MAKE SOME MASKS.
MATERIAL TO MAKE SOME MASKS.
>> I CAME HERE TO BUY FABRIC FOR
>> I CAME HERE TO BUY FABRIC FOR
MASKS.
MASKS.
>> COID-19 IS DRIVING
>> COID-19 IS DRIVING SALES
THROUGH THE ROOF OF
THROUGH THE ROOF OF FABRIC
STORES LIKE THIS ONE AS
STORES LIKE THIS ONE AS MORE
PEOPLE ARE BUYING MATERIAL
PEOPLE ARE BUYING MATERIAL TO
MAKE THEIR OWN MASKS AT
MAKE THEIR OWN MASKS AT HOME.
BETH SIR NICK IS THE RETAIL
BETH SIR NICK IS THE RETAIL
MANAGER OF MARTIAL
MANAGER OF MARTIAL FABRICS.
SHE SAID THAT SUMMERTIME
SHE SAID THAT SUMMERTIME
HISTORICALLY COMES WITH LOWER
HISTORICALLY COMES WITH LOWER
SALES, HOWEVER SINCE THE
SALES, HOWEVER SINCE THE
PANDEMIC, SALES HAVE SURGED IN
PANDEMIC, SALES HAVE SURGED IN
KEEPING CERTAIN FABRICS IN
KEEPING CERTAIN FABRICS IN STOCK
HAS BECOME A CHALLENGE AS PEOPLE
HAS BECOME A CHALLENGE AS PEOPLE
CONTINUE TO LINE UP OUTSIDE
CONTINUE TO LINE UP OUTSIDE THE
DOOR.
DOOR.
>> OUR COTTON SALES HAVE JUST
>> OUR COTTON SALES HAVE JUST
SPIKED BECAUSE EVERYONE IN THE
SPIKED BECAUSE EVERYONE IN THE
WORLD IS LOOKING FOR CON RIGHT
WORLD IS LOOKING FOR CON RIGHT
NOW AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
NOW AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF
SUPPLIERS FROM THE US WHERE THE
SUPPLIERS FROM THE US WHERE THE
US GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THEY
US GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED THEY
DON'T WANT TO SEND US COTTON.
DON'T WANT TO SEND US COTTON.
>> Reporter: SIR NICK
>> Reporter: SIR NICK SAID
OTHER SUPPLIERS HAVE STEPPED
OTHER SUPPLIERS HAVE STEPPED UP
TO KEEP THE CON COMING IN WHICH
TO KEEP THE CON COMING IN WHICH
IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE
IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE AS THE
NUMBER 1 MATERIAL CHOICE FOR
NUMBER 1 MATERIAL CHOICE FOR
MAKING MASKS AT HOME OR
MAKING MASKS AT HOME OR FOR
RETAIL SALE.
RETAIL SALE.
AS SOON AS NEW COTTON SWABS
AS SOON AS NEW COTTON SWABS
ARRIVED, PEOPLE BY THEM OUT AND
ARRIVED, PEOPLE BY THEM OUT AND
IT'S A WAITING GAME FOR THE
IT'S A WAITING GAME FOR THE NEXT
BATCH TO ARRIVE SHE SAYS.
BATCH TO ARRIVE SHE SAYS.
>> ONE OF OUR MAIN GOALS IS
>> ONE OF OUR MAIN GOALS IS TO
GET MORE PEOPLE
GET MORE PEOPLE INTERESTED IN
SEWING.
SEWING.
COVID-19 WAS NOT MY IDEA OF
COVID-19 WAS NOT MY IDEA OF
CHOICE FOR GETTING PEOPLE
CHOICE FOR GETTING PEOPLE BACK
IN TO SEWING BUT WHATEVER
IN TO SEWING BUT WHATEVER WORKS.
>> AS SOON AS THE
>> AS SOON AS THE PANDEMIC HIT.
I STARTED TO THINK I'M GONNA
I STARTED TO THINK I'M GONNA
COME UP WITH A MASK THAT I FEEL
COME UP WITH A MASK THAT I FEEL
WOULD BECOME TROUBLE.
WOULD BECOME TROUBLE.
PEOPLE WOULD FEEL
PEOPLE WOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE
WEARING IT.
WEARING IT.
>> Reporter: RAG IS A CLOTHING
>> Reporter: RAG IS A CLOTHING
DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG WHO HAS
DESIGNER IN WINNIPEG WHO HAS
ALSO BEEN BUYING UP MATERIALS TO
ALSO BEEN BUYING UP MATERIALS TO
MAKE MASKS.
MAKE MASKS.
HE USES WINDPROOF AND
HE USES WINDPROOF AND WATERPROOF
MATERIALS AS WELL AS
MATERIALS AS WELL AS OTHER
FABRICS AND HIS MASKS WHICH
FABRICS AND HIS MASKS WHICH
RETAIL FOR $40
RETAIL FOR $40 EACH.
HE MAKES MASKS IN FOUR DIFFERENT
HE MAKES MASKS IN FOUR DIFFERENT
SIZES, CUTTING AND SEWING
SIZES, CUTTING AND SEWING THEM
TOGETHER BY HAND.
TOGETHER BY HAND.
>> WHAT WERE GOING THROUGH
>> WHAT WERE GOING THROUGH RIGHT
NOW IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT
NOW IS SOMETHING THAT'S NOT SO
EASY TO DEAL WITH DAY-TO-DAY.
EASY TO DEAL WITH DAY-TO-DAY.
>> Reporter: HE IS SELLING HIS
>> Reporter: HE IS SELLING HIS
MASKS TO PEOPLE IN TORONTO,
MASKS TO PEOPLE IN TORONTO,
VANCOUVER AND MONTREÉAL
VANCOUVER AND MONTREÉAL AND
EXPECT BUSINESS TO
