Designers plug gap to earn some bucks
Masks are the new fashion accessory, just ask President Cyril Ramaphosa, after many South Africans made fun of him after he struggled with his mask a few weeks ago.
The president now wears the most stylish cloth mask to date.
Designers are taking advantage of this new coronavirus essential.
Not being able to make the usual wedding, red carpet and tailored attire, designers are calling on South Africans to assist them in putting food on the table. These masks don’t come cheap though.
Paledi Segapo of Palse Homme explains that to stay relevant and to put bread on the table, most designers have had to resort to sewing masks.
“But while it puts money in our pockets, we are also doing our bit to fight this virus,” he says. He launched his “Mascarf” last week for R150.
It’s more than a face mask. It keeps you warm for the upcoming winter days too. He says lockdown hard levels may be lifted, but social distancing will be here for a long while, requiring people to cover their faces.
“Who doesn’t want to still look fashionable during these uncertain times?” he asked. At the beginning of lockdown, his entry-level masks were selling for R150. They have since dropped to R80.
“The cotton we first used was expensive. We’ve opted to buy from a cheaper supplier, still 100% co on. We have two types of masks – all are for protective and comprise three layers. “The ‘Mascarf’ are designer high-end and require plenty of fabric to make, unlike ordinary masks, hence the price,” says Segapo.
Khosi Nkosi also added a shielded mask to his collection last week, in conjunction with their fabric face masks, from denim to camouflage retailing at R55, while the stylish shields with fabric edging retail at R120 on the Young Designers Emporium website.
Tshepo Mohlala, who bragged about his masks being better on Twitter last week, is selling smart denim ones at a special of R150 for two.
Brands such as Plus Fab and Curvaceous Me also stock a fabulous range at less than R50 a mask.
