Newark Seamstress fashions free scrubs for COVID-19 Health Workers

On a mission to support our brave NHS Staff, Hajra Kemari, owner of Petit Versailles, Newark, has been hard at work stitching together free scrubs to help keep Key Workers safe during the pandemic.

A month ago, Paris-trained pattern maker Hajra was working on wedding gowns in her Newark boutique before the doors closed due to lockdown guidelines. To help protect our frontline NHS workers from the COVID-19 virus, Hajra is now putting her skills to good use by stitching scrubs and laundry bags fo donate to key workers. 

Hajra has been eager to find a way to give back to our Front Line workers since being told she could not supply free surgical masks, due to the specific requirements they must meet. After being invited to the Facebook group 'For The Love of Scrubs,' she was more than happy to get stuck in stitching new work clothes for our NHS workers. 

It's important that Key Workers have clean scrubs to put on after leaving the COVID-19 infected zones, to ensure spread of the virus is minimised. The Facebook group was created in desperation, to ensure vital workers do not need to wear contaminated clothing for longer than necessary. Laundry bags are also important, so the contaminated clothing can be bagged up and put in the wash with no further contact needed. 

Hajra has been hard at work fashioning scrubs and laundry bags for three weeks now, using a generous donation of fabric from The Curtain Mill, Carter Gate, Newark and lots of duvet and pillow donations from family and friends. One duvet can be reworked into two sets of scrubs, whilst one pillow case can be transformed into two laundry bags. 

Whilst her boutique, Petit Versailles on Stodman Street, Newark, is closed, Hajra has been as busy as ever with daily messages from doctors and nurses. She said: "My very talented friend Caroline Chamberlain asked me to join the group 'For The Love of Scrubs and asked me to help. 

"I had a smile on my face as I could finally be part of this amazing cause and use my skills to help our heroes."

Hajra has many years of experience in bridal wear and alterations, and has worked as a freelancer for Vivienne Westwood, Alexander McQueen, Jagger and Newark's Jane Young. Her boutique, Petit Versailles, is currently closed inline with the Government's coronavirus lockdown guidelines. 

She would like to offer free alterations of scrubs to Newark's NHS workers, and can be contacted on her Facebook page - Petit Versailles.