Paul Jeong
There’s a lot of hysteria surrounding face masks these days, so much so that it often causes confusion. The average person knows more about face masks then they ever have, yet there are still so many questions. It doesn’t help that we have been introduced to so many different versions: the N-95, the surgical mask, the non-medical mask—it can be a bit overwhelming. According to the New York State Department of Health, N-95 medical masks should be reserved for healthcare workers. The US Center for Disease Control has also recommended everyone voluntarily wear fabric or cloth coverings while in public to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Since you could be a carrier and not show symptoms, this is an easy way to help.
Many fashion brands are starting to pop up with their own cloth face masks available for purchase. The benefits of this new endeavor are actually much greater than you may think. These design houses often use deadstock fabrics to create the masks, and they’re made to order. That way, while it may take a few weeks to get to you, they are not produced in excess. They can also be washed and reused versus thrown away. Not to mention, while other forms of production are down, this new product acts as a way to keep seamstresses and factory workers employed. The cherry on top, most brands are piggybacking a charity initiative onto their sales, with deals like ‘For every mask sold, we will donate the amount needed to purchase one N-95 mask for healthcare workers.’ We rounded up a list of our favorite fashion brands that are currently producing non-medical-grade masks.
Many fashion brands are starting to pop up with their own cloth face masks available for purchase. The benefits of this new endeavor are actually much greater than you may think. These design houses often use deadstock fabrics to create the masks, and they’re made to order. That way, while it may take a few weeks to get to you, they are not produced in excess. They can also be washed and reused versus thrown away. Not to mention, while other forms of production are down, this new product acts as a way to keep seamstresses and factory workers employed. The cherry on top, most brands are piggybacking a charity initiative onto their sales, with deals like ‘For every mask sold, we will donate the amount needed to purchase one N-95 mask for healthcare workers.’ We rounded up a list of our favorite fashion brands that are currently producing non-medical-grade masks.
