If live in a urban or suburban area, you’re likely spending most of your outdoor time now masked like a sexy safety intruder. Wearing masks outside during a pandemic is not only just common sense, it’s also currently legally mandated. Don’t even get us started on the utter depravity of the “never masked” movement. Let’s focus normal people who don’t want to kill themselves or others. Before you run and buy masks on amazon from a PPE stock supply company – consider these small companies with epic giveback strategies. Or support both! We are including some amazon links at the bottom of this link for those of you at risk whose needs go beyond cloth masks.
Here are our current faves (we will keep updating this list, so check back regularly!) to support:
6 Epically Righteous Mask Companies To Support
Salvage Maria is a small Mama-owned Zapoteca Mexican company based in Los Angeles – and all the masks are eco friendly! All the textiles are handmade, and buying from them helps revive some of the traditional hand weaving arts in certain areas that have been slowly fading away. Many of the yarns are made from recycled clothing. They make kids, toddler, and adult masks!
Salvage Maria Masks, $12-15 @salvagemaria.comSalvage Maria Masks, $12-15 @salvagemaria.com
Dalia MacPhee is a well known dress designer who, like many other fashion designers, has had to pivot to stay afloat. But this brand is no stranger to giving back, Dalia invented the first ever fire proof horse blanket to keep animal safe after the Woolsey Wildfires. Her designs are vegan and this is a woman-owned company.
The problem with most masks is what to do with them when you reach your destination, but would like to take them up for a moment (let’s say you’re hiking or somewhere safe not near others) – Beklina, the self proclaimed “first and original online eco boutique” has solved this issue with their masks which have back scrunchies that you can pull up like a headband, or down like a scarf and the mask goes nowhere.
Beklina Face Mask, $35 @beklina.com
Dalia McPhee Masks, $19-21 @daliaonline.comA a percentage of responsibly repurposed textile company Suay masks sales will go to feeding LA garment workers affected by COVID-19. Made from vintage bandanas with a filter pocket, nosepiece, and adjustable rubber stopper on earloops for secure fit – this one looks as cool as it works.
Vegan LGBTQ couple Mai Lei Robinson and Karen Gorham got cranking on masks as soon as covid19 started, despite being (respectively) a Los Angeles-based dog walker and hair salon owner prior to the pandemic. They have been using this time providing for anyone in need of a mask – and get this – they don’t charge traditional prices – pay or trade what you can afford! They keep getting new fabrics in – so they are always offering numerous cute patterns, and basics! They also make children’s sizes. Robinson says; “We both dabble in sewing so we had some leftover fabric. We made two masks for us that day. Karen mentioned her friend also needed one, then we decided EVERYONE is going to need one at some point, so I made a post on Instagram offering masks to those in need. Since no one is working, we are accepting donations only. So many people reached out we had to tap our local mom n pop fabric store for the last of their elastic and black cotton. We did another Instagram post, this time officially offering different styles of fabric. In four weeks we have made over 300 masks for people all over the country, Canada, and Mexico.”
Masks, Pay what you can afford (or trade!) @instagram.com/maileibailey.com
MaskClub is the first ever branded subscription face mask website that helps give back to America’s first responders. We couldn’t resist the Care Bear pattern!
Care Bears Cheer Bear Pattern, $13.99 @maskclub.com
