I feel like I’m living in Gilead from The Handmaid’s Tale. People I used to hug on my morning dog walk I now hardly recognize from the mask over their face. We walk away from each other rather than towards, making sure to keep a strict 6-foot+ distance. I know it’s for all our own safety, and I’m grateful that people are taking this seriously, but it still feels weird. Every time I wear my mask I chuckle thinking, “Michael Jackson was ahead of his time.”
As we want to preserve the medical-grade masks for our healthcare workers and frontline defenders, I figure why not wear a mask that isn’t just usable, but cute too? It must be the ex-fashion blogger in me wanting to conserve my personal sense of style during a pandemic. Or, maybe it’s just another distraction from the fact that life is so different these days. I’m not sure, but whatever it is, I’m grateful that there are clothing brands in the world that agree with me. So, while you’re stockpiling non-perishables and hoarding toilet paper (not cool, dude), you can at least continue making a difference with what mask you choose to order online.
Mary Ellen DiMauro
Supporting small businesses is crucial more now than ever before. My sweet friend and fellow 30A local, Mary Ellen DiMauro, has turned her entire fashion company into a mask-making machine during this time. I so admire her heart for wanting to help keep others safe while also figuring out a way to keep her business and employees running during this time. She pours her heart and soul into her business and the way she has graciously taken on this new endeavor is inspiring. If you’d like to support her, you can order a mask through her website. She has a ton of adorable options and sizes, plus you can feel good knowing you’re directly supporting her and her team to continue their work.
Shop Mary Ellen’s Masks Here
Christy Dawn
Of course my favorite sustainable dress brand would have something special up their sleeves during this time. In addition to continuing to run their business, Christy and her team are also making masks. What’s really cool about purchasing from them is that from each 5-pack sold, they are donating 5 additional masks to people in need. They have a lot of different options to choose from, but all materials are made from sustainable 100% cotton or linen deadstock fabrics. Buy sustainably? Check. Support a small business? Check. Give to those in need? Check. What more could you want in a mask?
Shop Christy Dawn’s Masks Here
Ace & Jig
Let’s turn to my favorite resource for practically anything: Instagram. Ace & Jig is chock full of loyal brand supporters and many of them have decided to create masks from their old Ace & Jig fabrics and sell through the app. I think this is really cool because we are supporting small makers, utilizing amazing fabrics from an awesome sustainable brand, and maybe making a friend out of it all if you hit it off with your mask-maker. You can follow the hashtags #aceandjigforsale and #aceandjigmasks to find one of your choosing.
Parachute
The coziest home goods shop is now also selling masks. Parachute’s bedding is manufactured by artisans who have been weaving world-class linens for over 80 years. For their masks in particular, layers of 100% cotton fabric are sewn together in a CDC-recommended design. Made from a selection of their comfortable, breathable top sheets – these masks are free of harmful chemicals and synthetics and feel soft against your skin. What’s more is that for every set sold, Parachute will donate a set to those in need through Baby2Baby and The Bowery Mission.
Parachute’s mask pre-sale is currently on hold due to the overwhelming demand, but they are expected to be back in business by May 18th.
Shop Parachute’s Masks Here
Amour Vert
This e-commerce site is your one-stop-shop for all things sustainable fashion. I was really happy to see them supporting the cause as well by making masks that are designed using deadstock fabric and sold in bundles of three. Each purchase ensures an essential worker in the City of San Francisco will also receive a non-medical grade mask. Plus, they’re also really adorable and come in the cutest patterns.
Amour Vert is currently sold out but should be restocking very soon, so make sure to sign up for their list to be the first notified.
Shop Amour Vert’s Masks Here
Reformation
You may know Reformation as the face of sleek sustainable fashion, but now they are also in the mask-making world. Reformation has partnered with The City of Los Angeles and Mayor Eric Garcetti on LA Protects, an initiative to organize local manufacturers to make five million non-medical masks for brave people doing essential work, ensuring medical-grade masks can be available to healthcare workers. On their website, you have three options. You can buy a set of 5-masks for yourself to support LA Protects, you can donate a set of 5 masks to communities in need including essential workers, or you can donate a pack of 250 non-medical grade masks to those in need. I love how Reformation is using their platform to support their local city during this time while also keeping their own employee’s jobs going.
Shop Reformation’s Masks Here
General Mask Advice:
Remember to open the package outside upon its arrival, disinfect the masks thoroughly before first use, and follow general mask-wearing instructions recommended by the CDC and World Health Organization.
