Have you seen Burberry’s face mask yet? The British fashion brand designed a face mask for the coronavirus pandemic made from fabric treated with antimicrobial technology.
The cotton face masks are available in blue or beige versions of Burberry’s vintage plaid pattern.
Designed to cover the mouth and nose, in compliance with the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations, the gently curved mask rises up over the nose bridge and swoops down around the cheeks.
Double-stitched elements add definition to the face covering, which attaches around the ears with black elastic loops.
Burberry said the cotton fabric of the mask and the matching pouch it comes with has been treated with “antimicrobial technology”. Antimicrobial surfaces are impregnated with an element that inhibits the growth of bacteria and mould, typically metallic ions such as silver or copper.
As face coverings become mandatory in certain situations designers have been creating coverings that are attractive as well as practical. Jewellery designer Saskia Diez is offering a mask that comes attached to a necklace-style chain, and Petit Pli is making masks that can be worn around the neck like a collar.
Burberry will donate 20 per cent of the profits from its face masks to the Burberry Foundation COVID-19 Community Fund, a charity that donates Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to food banks and healthcare charities.
The fashion brand says the masks are sustainable as they are made from what Burberry described as “revalued” fabric, suggesting they could be made from leftover fabric from pattern cutting.
Adidas was one of the first major brands to release its own reusable face mask.