How can you craft masks to meet both the functional needs of virus protection, but still be aesthetically pleasing to its users?

At the time, Americans were not used to wearing masks in public. Making masks that matched their wardrobe seemed like a vital way to ensure that people would protect themselves. Every mask sold is made-to-order, which allowed me to customize each mask according to specific needs - for people with hearing aids for example.

Patterning

Prototyped and modified mask patterns from China. Created six different sizes, to accommodate varied face, nose, and ear sizes. To create a snug fit across the bridge of the nose, I crafted a metal nosepiece from 3-inch pieces of wire, which I shaped using pliers. For the ear bands I adapted cotton twill tape, hair elastics, and headbands.

When pre-fab materials became readily available again, I replaced the nosepieces with aluminum nosepieces and elastic bands I purchased from various sources (the same materials used by medical supply companies). In addition to the two layers of fabric, I added an option of a built-in, flexible HEPA-style, lab-tested filter material.