It’s been a year for learning about new accessories for sure, who would have thought that this would become such a permanent feature in our lives. I still find myself asking today if they’re going to keep enforcing masks for much longer. The reality is that it’s likely to be part and parcel of our new reality in some respects.
My mask journey has been varied, I started with industrial level N95s which I still use, I have used disposable masks, designer masks (like in the video for Y made by Zhan Kai) and then vegan legend, boxer and icon David Haye sent me his new line of masks – The Black Mask Company. There was a perfect space for a premium black mask brand that keeps it clean, sexy and post apocalyptic at the same time and The Black Mask Company delivers just that.
The masks were made available in time for the UK Government’s rules on wearing face masks in shops which came into effect on Friday 24th July.
The three-layer, antibacterial face mask provides effective protection as well as being really comfortable and soft but with a moody black or grey design. The VP195 is also economical, as it can be washed up to 30 times. At a time when we are using 129 billion disposable face masks every month, the Black Mask Company is delivering a much needed reusable and sustainable solution in the fight against the pandemic.
“As COVID-19 took a grip on the UK, I went online to purchase a black face mask only to find them either out of stock or with an extended delivery time” said David Haye CEO of The Black Mask Company. “At a similar time I caught up with a friend who is based in Vietnam, a country noted for its effective management of COVID-19 with zero deaths to date despite a population 50% bigger than the UK. As a nation they pulled on their experiences of SARS and Bird Flu and responded proactively. Shutting borders, closing schools and implementing a strict track and trace system so I looked to them for guidance.”
The Vietnamese government commissioned a 3-layer cloth mask specifically for COVID-19 for their protection services to wear, known as The VP195 which utilises Nano-Silver fibre technology to maintain the masks anti-bacterial properties for 30 washes. Haye worked with the source to create a bespoke black design in a range of sizes to appeal to the Nation’s youth.
“I’m proud to be launching The Black Mask Company offering The VP195, bringing a cool option to the market which doesn’t cost the earth – in both senses! In the UK younger people appeared to be slow adopters of face masks, so I wanted something which appealed to them. As a nation we need to realise it’s not just about looking out for yourself, but also those around you, we have a collective responsibility to do what we can to curb the spread of COVID-19 so we can get back to business and reboot the economy, without a trail of disposable face masks left littering our streets”
The VP195 face mask costs between £9.50-£12.50, is available in black and in a range of sizes and can be purchased at theblackmaskcompany.com.