Should Face Masks Be Fashionable?

Thanks to the global pandemic we have experienced this year, many aspects of normal life have now changed somewhat and many of us are still adjusting to the new ways of doing things. One of the biggest changes is the wearing of facemasks to prevent the spread of the Corona virus, and In England this is now compulsory on public transport. So it is unsurprising how many different styles of masks are popping up from some of the most unlikely companies. But with so many masks on offer it has left me wondering if masks should be fashionable, or kept as purely functional. As they are meant to protect us from a deadly virus I do question whether fashion should influence our choice of mask, but after speaking to some friends and family I've come across many differing opinions.

Fashion is a form of art and self expression, neither are a necessity to our survival but a tool for our happiness. It influences many of the decisions we make and can give a great sense of identity, so why not allow this to also extend to face masks? Many adults and children are finding this situation a bit scary, myself included. I wear a black reusable mask at work and I can't help but feel a bit like Bane from the Batman films. There are many jobs where I could see it being helpful to have a less intimidating mask to help others feel more relaxed. And in a world where our appearance can seem so important many people may not feel comfortable wearing a mask at all, but especially not one that makes them feel self conscious. So if a few pretty patterns and a splash of colour is enough to entice those people to wear one then that must be a good thing! Fashionable masks can also bring a ray of sunshine to an otherwise pretty crappy situation. Also with many people making their own from home out of unused fabric they can be quite eco friendly!

However, I do see downsides to fashionable masks. Like with everything the fashion industry touches appearance can be put before function and practicality. And whilst there are many reputable brands out there making masks there are also many that are just trying to make money and will sacrifice quality and employee wellbeing for profit. Worries about quality can even be extended to those making their own masks for personal use or to sell. How many layers of fabric do they have and are they using the right material? (May seem obvious but I actually saw knitted masks the other day..) Then there is the issue that some people/brands will always take it too far, making masks with suggestive lip biting or Halloweeny gruesome grins that should be in the kids dressing up box, not worn on a bus on the early commute to work. I also worry that fashionable masks take away from the seriousness of the situation. Their purpose is ultimately medical and looking so would remind us of that. So as much as they can be daunting, they remind us of how we should behave and could also bring confidence to those who are particularly at risk of this virus that others are seeing the importance of their function.

So should face masks be fashionable or purely functional? In my opinion I think fashionable masks are a great way of making a scary pandemic seem a little more light-hearted, as long as people don't go too far. They can make people feel more comfortable and even encourage people to wear a mask by appealing to their sense of style. However, function should always be prioritised and research done. Make sure you know what is required to make a mask effective at stopping virus transmission and use the right fabrics if you are making your own. You should also avoid companies who are selling masks that have not supported their employees during this hard time and instead look to companies that have actively tried to do good, or buy from independent sellers that may be struggling financially. Many mask sellers are also donating a mask or a portion of each sale to the NHS when a mask is bought, which means you're also supporting some of our frontline workers at the same time as protecting yourself and others.