When the call came for designers to begin creating masks and protective gear for healthcare workers, fashion names from LVMH to L.L. Bean stepped in to help. With masks becoming a requirement in many public settings, our favorite up-and-coming fashion brands are have begun offering inventive options that go beyond a bandana.
Below, some of our favorite designers, from L.A. to Detroit to Rhode Island, who are creating their own non-medical fashion face masks, many of them with charitable components. Staying safe in style, helping out a small business, and giving back to those in need? That’s a win-win-win.
1 Fashion Face Mask With Bows
Hillary Taymour is using deadstock fabric from past collections to create these maximalist masks. For each mask purchased, she will be providing 5 masks to healthcare professionals in New York City.
2 Cloud Mask
Designer James Flemons will donate N95 masks to essential workers for each mask purchased.
3 Japanese Vintage Cotton Masks, 3-Pack
VPL’s masks get extra sustainability points: they’re made from vintage Japanese cotton.
4 Blue Reiko Hand-Batik Cotton Face Mask
Studio One Eighty Nine
$20.00
The hand-dyed batik masks are created from locally sourced Ghanian cotton.
5 Floral Painting Black Face Mask
A portion of the proceeds will benefit health care workers in New York and New Jersey and the International Rescue Fund’s COVID-19 fund for refugee families.
6 Pink Wool Boucle/Cotton Mask
The “Uptown Girl” of masks. Proceeds from sales go to procuring and funding PPE for those who need it.
7 A DIOP Facemask
The Detroit label is giving back to the community by donating a portion of its mask proceeds to Feed the Frontlines, a charity supporting local restaurants and providing meals to emergency personnel.
8 Reusable Non-Medical Grade Face Masks
9 Handmade Face Cover
Located in Providence, R.I., the brand is donating a portion of these bandana-style masks to people in need in their community.
10 For Days mask
The circular fashion startup is sewing masks for postal workers, healthcare professionals, and other essential workers in L.A. If you buy a 5-pack, they will donate 5 more masks to this initiative.
11 The Sustainable Mask
The L.A. label is making its masks from deadstock cotton, featuring its signature retro floral prints.
12 Vintage Fabric Covid Masks
The designer is donating mask sets to essential workers and unhoused people in Downtown Los Angeles.
