Fashion and solidarity expressed through masks, as exemplified by The Countess, Fernando Claro, Juan Carlos Pajares, and Maya Hansen.
Amidst the global health crisis, the fashion industry has shown remarkable resilience, with numerous designers turning their attention to producing non-surgical masks. These masks, designed with both protection and aesthetics in mind, have helped address critical shortages of personal protective equipment during the early stages of the pandemic.
One such designer is Juan Carlos Pajares, a Spanish craftsman whose masks are a 100% made in Spain product. Pajares started by donating fifty masks to centres and clinics, and now his masks, made with high-quality cotton and inner pockets for filters, are available for purchase in his online store for 14.50 euros. Pajares is also part of the #YoAyudoDesdeCasa movement, having distributed 7,000 masks to various hospitals, security forces, health centers, and associations.
Another designer making a significant impact is Marina Conde, the creative director of La Condesa. Conde began producing masks on March 20th, and has since been distributing nearly a thousand masks daily throughout Spain. Conde has received generous help from companies like Ikea and El Corte Inglés in the form of free fabric, allowing her to continue her charitable work.
The masks produced by both Pajares and Conde are not only functional but also stylish, helping to shape mask-wearing as a socially accepted and customizable practice. In addition, Pajares donates all the money raised from his masks to official crowdfunding platforms for healthcare resources.
The coronavirus pandemic has brought the fashion industry to a standstill in almost all sectors. However, it has also provided an opportunity for designers to engage in charitable efforts and support community initiatives. For instance, Fernando Claro and his team have designed a hygiene mask with the aim of raising funds for a clinical trial to stop the transmission of Covid-19.
Moreover, cultural and performance masks have emerged during this time. Artists and designers, such as the Canadian sculptural visual artist, have created masks that extend beyond medical uses into performance and visual art, enriching cultural expression during the pandemic.
In summary, fashion designers have played a notable role during the coronavirus pandemic by producing non-surgical masks that combine protection with style, helping address shortages, supporting charitable causes, and contributing culturally through artistic mask designs. The masks are now available for free in Elda and Petrer pharmacies for those who need them most, further demonstrating the industry's commitment to public health during these challenging times.
- Despite the average revenue losses in the fashion industry, designers like Juan Carlos Pajares and Marina Conde have turned their focus towards health-and-wellness, creating stylish masks that not only address critical shortages of personal protective equipment but also donate proceeds to mental-health organizations.
- In the realm of lifestyle, fashion designers like Fernando Claro have taken a proactive approach during the pandemic, designing hygiene masks with the aim of raising funds for a clinical trial to combat the spread of Covid-19.
- Beyond health-and-wellness and medical uses, artists and designers have embraced fashion-and-beauty in the face of the pandemic, creating performance masks that enrich cultural expression and expand the scope of mask-wearing beyond necessity.
