Will the Face Mask Become the Next Fashion Accessory?
In the pandemic’s narrative, the face mask has been a shape shifter. At first they were deemed unnecessary for healthy people, a directive likely made due the fact that medical-grade masks were in dire supply for the health-care workers who needed them most. Then the Centers for Disease Control began to officially recommend that people wear them out to do essential things like grocery shop. Contradictory statements made by health officials and President Trump have further added to the confusion on just what the official social protocol should be. But as the world begins to emerge from the apex of the crisis (at least in a first wave) and finds a way to adjust to a new normal, wearing a face mask will now be mandatory in most public places. Now the fashion industry is at the crossroads of a potential new accessory category. How brands will market and sell face masks — while staying sensitive to the nature of their use — is a tricky situation. Designer and influencer Aleali May in