Fashion Brands Shift from Apparel to Face Masks

In these challenging times, a number of fashion brands are shifting their production from making apparel to making face masks.   This is good news for consumers and healthcare professionals who can’t find masks in stock anywhere.  In my previous post,  I talked about how you can make your own mask at home from fabric remnants or even a old T-shirt.  But if you’re like me, a tech worker in exile from their brick & mortar office, working a gazillion hours from home, you may prefer to buy a ready-made mask.   Fortunately, in attractive face mask are available for order, even though you may not receive them for a few weeks. Here a few face mask options for your consideration.

One of Johnny Was’ fashion masks with a selection of sample prints.

Los Angeles Fashion Brand Johnny Was is now selling face masks made from their beautiful floral print fabrics.  The masks are sold in a pack of  5 for $25.00 and offer a pocket to insert a filter. Johnny Was will donate a pack to essential workers. The masks are available now for order, but are expected to ship for three to four weeks.

Alice & Olivia’s Face Mask features a very Audrey Hepburnesque print and retails for $10.00. 

Alice & Olivia by Stacey Bendet is making a very fashionable mask with a print that bears a resemblance to Audrey Hepburn in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s.” The mask retails for $10.00 and doesn’t feature the protective filter insert, so it’s not as protective, but it’s very cute. For each face mask sold, Alice and Olivia will donate a mask to a community in need.  Pre-orders of these masks are expected to start shipping April 20, 2020.

Colorful cotton print face masks, with insert for a filter, are on now sale at Etsy.

Look for other face masks options on Etsy from small business owners like California Calligraphy who are making these mask in a variety of styles and prints.

A 1918 Red Cross sign to remind people to wear a face mask to prevent the spread of Influenza.

Who knew that the face mask could be made into such and attractive fashion accessory? But do they work?  Research shows that they do.  During the 1918 Spanish Flu epidemic,  residents of San Francisco, CA were required by law to wear face masks when they went outside.  The wearing of the masks, helped reduce the spread of the flu by 25%.   During the third outbreak of the Spanish Flu in 1918, San Francisco fell victim to more cases of flu because residents stopped wearing their masks–they had simply gotten tired of wearing them during the last two outbreaks.

Steps to prevent Influenza from the 1918 Flu pandemic.

Let’s not make that mistake again.  If you go outside, wear a mask to protect yourself and others.   Just like in 1918, there are not enough healthcare professionals available to care for everyone if they fall sick.  So, why not wear a mask–it’s a temporary measure to help you stay well.

Below, are two of my favorite fashionable face masks, with filter insert, from Los Angeles fashion brand Johnny Was.

Posing in one of my new Johnny Was Face Masks–who says Face Mask have to be ugly?

Showing off my Pink print face mask from Los Angeles Johnny Was.