There’s no masking the truth: face masks are crucial.
2020 kicked off with Classic Blue as Pantone’s colour of the year, but the title might as well go to face-mask-blue. In the time of COVID-19, social distancing, frequent hand washing, and face masks have become the trilogy of safety and health. It might seem like a simple act to put on a face mask when you step out of the house, but it can save your life and the lives of others. So simple in fact, that there’s absolutely no reason for you not to wear one.
There was plenty of panic buying for face masks and all sort of advice being spread (through WhatsApp or otherwise) at the start of the pandemic, but what we know now is that high-spec respirators like the N95 or FFP2 are necessary particularly for frontline health workers. For the general public, fabric face covering and regular disposable masks are protection enough, provided you comply to other hygiene practices like thorough hand washing and avoiding touching your face.
This is also a time when fashion has stepped up and made socially responsible contributions. Fashion houses like Yves Saint Laurent and Balenciaga (under Kering Group) began mass producing masks for frontliners, while Burberry and Giogio Armani produced surgical gowns. Brands from all over the world have also begun designing their own masks for the general public, and although these products are much pricier than the face masks sold widely, they’re reusable so they’re better for the planet, and they’re more comfortable and convenient. Some require disposable filters while you should also wash them to keep them sanitised.
Take a look at our favourite mask designs that combine fashion and functionality from local and international designers.
