Italian fashion house Coccinelle has announced in a letter to its partners and colleagues the closure of all directly operated boutiques throughout Italy.

Shopping continues as usual at coccinelle.com and the company has organised a fundraising campaign to raise money for hospitals (see Coccinelle’s official channels for details on how to donate).

The move was taken in line with containment measures being executed by the Italian government to tackle Covid-19, which as of 12 March (08:00) has infected more than 12,400 people in Italy and claimed the lives of more than 800, prompting a country-wide lockdown on all but essential public services.

“Faced with the ongoing emergency, this step is an act of love by a profoundly Italian brand at this time of great difficulty for the whole of Italy,” read the letter.

“It is also a practical gesture of responsibility. For several weeks, the company’s efficiency and proactivity has enabled us to work remotely without stopping our activities, while at the same time safeguarding our safety. Important goals can only be achieved together, united, even if it’s from a distance.”