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Stay safe and support these labels in the process
Following the latest update from the government, we are now being encouraged to wear face masks or coverings in order to protect others and prevent further spread of the coronavirus - particularly when in enclosed spaces, where social distancing is harder. It is now compulsory to wear a mask on public transport and it will soon be mandatory to wear one at all times in shops in England from 24 July. Anyone who fails to do so could face a fine of up to £100. While medical-grade masks should be reserved for NHS and frontline workers, it's believed that wearing a simple cloth face mask can reduce spread from person-to-person by 50 to 100 per cent dependent on design.
The World Health Organisation emphasises that, when wearing a face mask, you should not let this change your current behaviour with regards to social distancing and hand hygiene; there is some concern that wearing a mask instils a false sense of security in the wearer, so it's vital to maintain the same level of safety precautions. Additionally, masks must be properly used, cared for and washed, in order to be effective and not become a focus for infection themselves.
While many are choosing to make their own face masks at home (advice on ways to do that here), others are opting to buy theirs - so why not use this as an opportunity to support an independent fashion label in the process?
Here, we round up stylish face masks that are available to shop right now:
For more advice on how to apply, remove and take care of your fabric face mask safely, click here.
Just in time for the festive season comes Linda Farrow's gold star-sprinkled mask. Created from a silk-feel pleated fabric with a cotton lining, the mask features adjustable straps and a nose wire for a tailored fit. It also comes complete with three removable PM2.5 filters, which help filter out bacteria and harmful pollutants, and a silk-feel drawstring bag. The mask comes free with any purchase of Linda Farrow frames or is also available to buy separately.
Face mask, £20, Linda Farrow
Fashion's favourite brand Bella Freud has launched its very own range of silk face masks using offcuts of surplus fabrics from previous seasons - perfect for keeping safe and stylish at the same time. Each mask, which comes in four different styles including a star and snakeskin print, is stored in a matching drawstring bag.
Swimwear brand Oceanus are here to add an extra touch to your day-today. The masks come in neutral tones or brighter hues and are each embroidered Swarovski crystals.
This reusable mask features three layers of soft, breathable fabric that feels super soft on the skin, with elasticated straps to ensure a secure fit.
Erdem has produced some of the prettiest, most luxurious face masks available, made using overstock fabric and featuring prints from the autumn/winter 20 collection including a the Eastbury Blue Floral cotton poplin, the pale pink Etty Floral and the Frida Toile De Jouy in white and navy.
£140 for a set of three, Erdem
Mulberry's organic cotton breathable masks feature one of the brand's floral prints and come with a canvas pouch for safe storage.
Each Everlane reusable non-medical mask is made from a double-layer woven fabric and features elastic ear loops for a little stretch and a lot of comfort. For optimal use, Everlane suggest washing the masking before using and after each wear. Once it’s on, do your best to avoid adjusting.
Illustrator and pop artist Sir Peter Blake has launched a range of limited-edition face coverings for Comic Relief, with proceeds being raised for people affected by the Covid 19 pandemic. The masks are also available in store at TK Maxx or online.
Whistles are selling a sustainable, reusable mask with all profits going to the Trussell Trust. Funds raised will support food banks nationwide, to provide supplies to those who need it most.
Needle & Thread will donate half of all proceeds from its floral face coverings to mothers2mothers (m2m), an organisation that prevents mother-to-child transmission of HIV by providing education and support for pregnant women and new mothers living with HIV.
Available in terracotta, khaki and navy, Akris' coverings are made using 100 per cent cotton and come with adjustable bands to ensure they each fit perfectly. Half of proceeds from each mask sale will be donated to The Children’s Defense Fund.
Made using organic cotton, Harem London's simple face coverings come with blue, pink, black, purple and green stitching.
Italian label La DoubleJ embraces mood-boosting print and colour with its pack of three masks, created with stretch-cotton.
£25 for three, La DoubleJ
So Just Shop is a sustainable lifestyle brand that curates ethically-made, environmentally-friendly accessories and homeware. Its face masks are each handmade from up-cycled fabric in either cotton or silk, with African prints or Indian sari fabric. No two are the same, so expect truly unique designs.
Kindred is doing its bit to support the NHS during this time, as all proceeds from the sale of its masks go directly to NHS Charities Together, with the aim of raising its target of £5 million.
Fans of French label Maje will be pleased to hear that the brand has created three different masks using its pre-existing and classic prints. Through a partnership with Lainière Santé, a French leader in innovative textiles dedicated to health and personal protection, Maje has made 30,000 face coverings for consumers. All profits will be donated to the non-for-profit charity, Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors without Borders.
Isko Vital's masks are made using technology called SANITIZED™ which makes them extremely breathable and flexible to grant a high comfort level for the wearer. They can also be washed up to 30 times and are available in three sizes and various different colours (we like the khaki and navy blue).
£14 for three, Isko Vital
The British Fashion Council and Bags of Ethics have collaborated to manufacture sustainable and reusable masks by six British designers, including Mulberry, Halpern and Rixo. All proceeds from each sale will be donated to three charities – the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Appeal, the BFC Foundation Fashion Fund and Wings of Hope Children’s Charity.
3x pack, £15, British Fashion Council
With each Profound mask sale, a portion of proceeds will be donated to the International Rescue Organisation, which works to assist Refugee families in overpopulated areas. Further donations to funds that assist healthcare workers in local areas of New York and New Jersey will be donated, as well as a portion of proceeds being donated towards factory facilities that opened its doors for the production of these masks, as sewers, pattern makers and workers that continue to put themselves at risk every day.
Isabel Manns' printed masks are made out of soft cotton, which is perfectly breathable for the summer months. Each piece is made in the brand's London-based ateliers, to support the staff during this difficult time. All profits will be donated to Maggie’s Charity, a cancer charity.
Shohei's face masks are ethically made using sustainably sourced and eco-friendly tech-materials that offer breathability and moisture absorption. The vegetal ingredients in the Pyratex fabric originate from different plants, which gives the masks unique body-caring qualities that have been tested and certified by European textile institutes.
The Liberty face covering is formed from three specially treated layers, offering comfort and breathability for hours of use – available in a pack of five randomly assorted up-cycled Liberty prints. For each set of coverings sold, one covering is donated to a charity.
Sentebale is a charity founded by the Duke of Sussex and Prince Seeiso in 2006. It helps vulnerable children in Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi to lead healthier and more productive lives. Sentebale works with local grassroots organisations to help these children – the victims of extreme poverty and the HIV/AIDS epidemic. All proceeds of its face masks will go directly into the charity to enable them to provide face masks in Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi.
Är face masks have replaceable nano-filters, which block 99.8 per cent of viruses tested by Nelson Labs. The mask is also self-cleaning because of ViralOff® treatment from Sweden, which reduces 99 per cent of viruses and bacteria on the surface of the mask.
Halima Aden helped to create these face masks for hijab-wearing frontline workers, in partnership with AI fashion company Anywear. Having worked as a cleaner at a hospital before her modelling career, Aden understands the important of staying safe and comfortable. “As many hijab-wearing women are working at healthcare facilities, I wanted to make sure they have a comfortable option for wearing a mask while keeping their hair covered,” she told Insider.
This two-layered silk face mask comes with an internal pocket, so you can add your own filter. Valle & Vik's mask features silk-covered elastic straps, cotton lining and a matching silk drawstring bag. 100 per cent of proceeds will be donated to the NHS.
Made with leftover fabric from the Sonia Carrasco collection, these face masks are zero waste and the purchase of them will also go to a great cause as the proceeds will be donated to the Fundació Ared, an organisation which helps female victims of domestic violence. The masks come in a range of different colours and there is an opening where you can place a filter if you wish.
These masks from Luisa Cerano are made of pure cotton with colour-matching, narrow elastic bands for a secure fit on the ears. The face masks are sewn in two layers, foldable and reinforced with flexible wire in the nose area.
Coming in a range of 11 different colours, these masks from Not Just Clothing are lightweight and designed to provide maximum comfort without compromising on protection. Using Diolen hygienic material, these masks breathe in the same way you’d expect of a trainer, with a soft comfortable fit that moulds seamlessly to your nose and chin. 50 per cent of each sale will go towards the Masks For NHS Heroes initiative, who are purchasing essential PPE for frontline workers.
Florence Bridge is a London-based fashion label that specialises in digitally printed silks, patchwork leather and shearling textures. The sustainably focused brand has created a collection of unisex face masks, with 25 per cent of the sales going to the Fuel Our Frontline charity, which is delivering essential groceries to hospitals around the UK.
Plumo's handmade masks are created from four layers of organic linen, making them light, breathable and reusable. £2 from each sale of the £10 masks will be donated to the Mask 4 Heroes crowdfunding campaign.
Marc Cain's bright and colourful masks are some of the prettiest available; the brand is also donating €5 to the German Red Cross with every sale.
Face masks have always been a key part of Alan King's streetwear brand, and he has been making cotton, vegan leather and leather mask covers since 2019, according to Forbes. So, during the current pandemic, King was eager to help and create a particularly economical version, with each disposable first aid mask costing just $1.
French accessories brand Le Colonel is creating masks out of Liberty London fabric, available in three different sizes for men, women and children. The three-layer barrier masks are sold in packs of three and are reusable and washable.
Casetify has taken the initiative to not only protect its customers, but also health workers. With every mask that's purchased, a surgical mask will also be donated to a health worker in need. Casetify initially launched by donating over 10,000 masks to Direct Relief, but after a high volume of sales, the brand increased this to 35,000. These masks also include removable filters.
Edeline Lee's face masks feature a bendable wire nose piece that can be formed to the bridge of your nose, ensuring that your mask fits securely to your face. These products are made from Nonwoven Spunbond Polyproylene - which is the same fluid-resistant, breathable fabric used to make surgical masks and drapes.
Los Angeles label The Mighty Company is known for its vibrant and psychedelic designs. The brand is now making masks using leftover fabric from its archive and, with every mask sold, another will be made for The Midnight Mission homeless shelter.
A percentage of sales from Pearl Lowe's Liberty Print masks will be donated to the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust in support of paramedics, healthcare workers and the communities that use these services during this difficult time.
LoveShackFancy has employed seamstresses who have lost their businesses in the pandemic, to hand-make masks using the brand's leftover fabrics and trimmings. A percentage of proceeds from each mask sold will be donated to hospitals and frontline workers who are fighting coronavirus. So far, LoveShackFancy has made 1,000 masks, with plans to produce many more.