Designer Masks | By: Ashlee Seaton

Written By: Ashlee Seaton | Photos By: Emma Mattes | Designed By: Cole Berndsen

As face masks have become a requirement in our daily outfits, they have become available in a variety of colors and patterns making it possible for them to become an extension of one’s personality. Clothing retailers, both large companies and local businesses, have joined the trend of selling a wide variety of face masks to match each personality while keeping them effective and comfortable.

One large company that has begun selling face masks is Victoria’s Secret/PINK. Although their masks are onesize-fits-all, they have an adjustable ear strap along with an adjustable nose wire to ensure a perfect fit. Victoria’s Secret/ PINK has two different fabrics to choose from, a cotton-andspandex blend and a purely cotton option.

Rachel Stohowick, the brand operations supervisor at the Jordan Creek Shopping Center Victoria’s Secret said, “I am finding that they are pretty durable, especially the cotton and spandex ones.”

Although cotton and spandex masks seem to be the most durable, purely cotton masks are also machine washable. Each fabric style has a wide variety of patterns to choose from. Patterns can range from solid colors (including plain black or white), polka dots, animal prints and typographic prints with sayings (such as “stay positive”). Each mask is priced at $9.50.

“We are going to start selling more of them,” Stohowick said. “I feel like maybe around mid-October, close to November, especially with the holidays coming up, we are going to have to start putting a limit on masks.”

RAYGUN, a local business in Des Moines, has also started selling face masks. These masks have witty sayings on them that RAYGUN is known for, such as “don’t drink bleach” and “there still isn’t a vaccine.”

“A lot of our masks are in really high demand,” Mary Newman, the assistant manager of RAYGUN, said. “We started with just a few (designs), and then we (developed) more ideas.”

RAYGUN masks are all about the sayings. The background tends to be plain black, white, or red, and they are all sold in adult and child sizes.

“We had what we call our fabric face masks, and they are white with blue ties that go around the back,” Newman said. “Then we started to also do ear-loop masks.”

The ear-loop style has been selling the fastest at RAYGUN, likely because of the efficiency compared to tying a mask on every time you put it on. RAYGUN also sells third-party masks that have a filter on the side to help with breathing and are sold with a variety of patterns, such as animal prints and solid color options.

Fusion Boutique, located in West Des Moines, has also started to sell face masks. This local business has both adult and child sizes that are available in solid black, rainbow and tie-dye. The adult masks have an adjustable wire on the nose to help fit all face types.

“We (sold) masks for a local bank,” Sara Jacobson, the owner of Fusion Boutique, said. “They needed 250 of them, so for that, we put in a special order.” The availability of masks makes Fusion Boutique a go-to place for anyone who needs a large order of matching masks in a short amount of time.

There are a variety of online retailers that sell masks in case leaving the house is a concern. Nylander Los Angeles sells four different sizes of masks ranging from extra-small to large. Although these masks are priced high at $21.90 or more they are three-layered masks that include a pocket for an air filter. Patterns that Nylander makes and sells are more intricate, with skull designs and mandala patterns.

Another online option is Etsy, which is where many in-home businesses sell their masks. There are hundreds of masks to choose from on Etsy, with multiple styles (adjustable ear straps, adjustable nose wire, tie around your head, etc.) and patterns (solid color, animal print, rainbow, sayings, etc.) and prices ranging from $4.50 to around $25.