Designer Masks

MINOR MIRACLES

Minor Miracles is known for its colourful prints that are inspired by paint strokes, so its masks are no exception. Retailing at S$12, they're so popular that they are now in their second round of production.

Creative director Dawn Bey says that since they have run out of fabric off-cuts, she has resorted to cutting up Minor Miracles scarves to meet orders.

The masks are made by recent graduates of the fashion course at Temasek Polytechnic, some of whom are now without jobs. Profits go to four different charities to help them tide over the coronavirus outbreak.

From May 8, Minor Miracles will open a third-round of preorders, with profits to be channelled to funds supporting migrant workers.

Go to minormiracles.shop.

NICOLAS LAVILLE COUTURE

French couture designer Nicolas Laville is more used to creating wedding and evening gowns, but with no gala events or weddings happening, business has quieted down.

He was inspired to make his own reusable masks after receiving one handed out by the government. Mr Laville says his first job in France was to design military and civil protection equipment, "so I learnt about non-invasive protection and materials".

His masks are made from cotton because the threads are woven more tightly and yet are still breathable. He found recycled cotton fabric at home, and started making the masks. Mr Laville uses only cord elastic instead of a flat elastic band, as the latter tends to be more uncomfortable when worn over the ears.

His masks are priced at S$10, of which S$8 is donated to charity organisation Food from the Heart, while the remaining S$2 covers his supplies and utilities.

Go to instagram.com/nl_couture.

MASKELA

Prior to the circuit breaker announcement, Carol Chen, founder of designer dress rental company Covetella was frustrated that not many people were wearing masks, so she decided to change the stigma of wearing one.

Ms Chen cut up an evening gown and made a glamourous sequin mask that she is proud to wear. She has since launched Maskela, which offers two collections of masks. The first collection retails from S$35, made with a polyester or silk exterior and a cotton interior, in matte, satin and sequin finishes.

The second is the Maskela x Covetella limited-edition capsule collection, priced at S$50, made using sequinned fabric, to complement an evening dress. All Maskela masks come with a hidden pocket to insert disposable filters and can be worn over surgical masks. For each purchase, two medical masks will be donated to frontliners.

Go to maskela.com.

OLIVEANKARA

There are plenty of colourful reusable masks available, but OliveAnkara stands out for using wax printed cotton fabric, called Ankara, which is typically used in West Africa. The brand was started by Ifeoma Ubby, who was born and raised in Italy but comes from a Nigerian family.

The brand carries mostly womenswear and prides itself on being sustainable, so off-cuts are upcycled into accessories. When Covid-19 started to spread in Singapore, Ms Ubby came up with the idea to use the cut-offs to make masks, with the intention of adding colour to an otherwise ugly accessory.

The reversible masks in bold prints are priced at S$19. For every mask sold, 10 per cent of the proceeds are donated to local charities helping migrant workers and people in need.

Go to oliveankara.