Breath in, breath out — five sustainable face masks to make it through in style.
It’s now quite clear that we will be wearing face masks for some time and will have to use them in different occasions. So, just like all our outfits and accessories, they will gradually adapt to our style and become a way to make a fashion statement, be creative and show our personality. They might also become the new gift for all our next holyday occasions.
Unfortunately, the first batch of face masks protected our health and the one of the people around us but ended up pretty quickly as trash in the environment. Luckily now, for those of us who make a common use of masks (disposable masks are a necessity for some) there is the option of non-disposable ones that can be washed and reused again and again and can protect us for longer time without ending up in the trash after each use.
So, we thought to share four brands that are making sustainable masks that are reusable and washable. All of these are made with a sustainable ingredient, sometimes using fabric scraps and other times also with a great way to give back. Have a look here and find your style.
U-Mask, Model 2 — an Italian brand of masks used by influencers and formula 1 drivers
These masks come in a variety of colors and you might have noticed them on the drivers of Ferrari, Mercedes and McLaren’s or on Italian influencer and digital entrepreneur Chiara Ferragni.
U-Mask masks have two-layers, with an outer shell hugging your face comfortably while an insert keeps you safe and clean. The exterior is made with fabric made with ECONYL® regenerated nylon, produced 100% from nylon waste, and the interior FFP3-grade filter is both self-sanitizing and anti-proliferative, giving the mask a usage time up 200 hours. After this period, you can dispose only the internal filter, that can be bought from U-Mask separately, and keep using the external shell.
OceanPositive Masks by Fourth Element — from the UK, face masks made with fabric scraps
Forth Element is a UK base brand that does, among other things, swimwear using fabrics made with ECONYL® regenerated nylon. This nylon is made 100% from waste like fishing nets, old carpets and textile scraps that are regenerated into a virgin quality nylon used in different fashion applications. Fourth Element is using the offcuts from the fabric to make these masks. Each mask comes with three PM 2.5 filters, which have five layers of filtration, including an activated carbon core layer. OceanPositive masks (minus the filter) can be machine washed and reused indefinitely.
Lantiga Vita — from Canada, masks that give 1% back for diving activities to recover marine waste
Lantiga Vita is a Canadian company that started producing a sustainable apparel line of tees called Oceanum Collection that is made of regenerated ECONYL® nylon. Now, with the same fabric they produce also a line of face masks in three colors.
1% of sales from the Oceanum collection, and now also from the masks, will be donated to the Healthy Seas initiative. This environmental initiative has the goal of collecting ghost fishing nets and other marine waste from the seas with the help of volunteer divers. The nylon ghost nets recovered by the divers are recycled with other nylon waste by an Italian company called Aquafil and transformed into ECONYL® nylon yarn to use in fashion and design. Since 2013 the Healthy Seas initiative has recovered 510 tons of waste fishing nets.
Sea Morgens — design inspired by sea and made with fabric scraps in a double layer
Sea Morgens is known for its unique ocean inspired prints and passion about conserving the marine environment. Their fun, beautiful, unique prints are hand drawn by their designer who takes inspiration from her diving photos and her love and passion for the marine world. These masks, as well as scrunchies, are all made with waste fabric from swimwear. They are not medical grade, but they are double layered, reversible and washable.
These masks are also made with ECONYL® yarn. As well as being a solution on waste, ECONYL® regenerated nylon is also better when it comes to climate change. It reduces the global warming impact of nylon by up to 90% compared with the material from oil.
Thyra –comfortable, breathable and reusable masks with replaceable N95 filter
Thyra has tested numerous designs and materials before deciding on their hardwearing and beautiful combination of the best materials offered today. The brand cares deeply about the environment, so a sustainable material was a must from the beginning.
Every mask is made from ECONYL® regenerated nylon and it is ultra-comfortable, durable and reusable. The mask is also packaged in sealed biodegradable plastic and all other packaging used is recycled paper and cardboard.
Protection from a multitude of microscopic particles and pathogens is achieved by the replaceable filter made from melt-blown, non-woven 100% polypropylene that blocks over 95% of particles of at least 0.3 microns in size according to the brand.
Part of the money from the masks will be donated by the brand to Masks for NHS Heroes.
