Friday Five
Now that everyone in San Francisco is required to wear a face mask or covering whenever they’re indoors or in close proximity to others, people are getting crafty with their hygienic yet fashionable looks.
Plenty of local makers are churning out homemade face masks in all sorts of styles. Given that it’s hard to find any official medical masks—and if you do, better to donate them to health care workers—shopping local is the best way to go. Here are a few of our favorite vendors.
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1. Aplat
This San Francisco–based company is known for its quirky, origami-like canvas bags that make carrying produce fun and zero-waste. Made from 100% organic cotton, these totes are both fashionable and sustainable. Like many business owners during this pandemic, Aplat founder Shu Betrand is using the company’s resources to help health care workers with their personal protective equipment by making organic cotton masks. True to Aplat’s style, there’s a hint of origami in these masks. If you’re not a health care worker and just a normal civilian, you can buy one mask for $28, which also covers the donation of one mask to health care workers on the front lines.
Aplat Organic Cotton Face Mask
2. Corda Designs
Former stylist turned designer Kelli Ronci usually handcrafts jewelry and clothing in her Mill Valley studio, but now she’s sewing adorable face masks with fun prints like polka dots or stripes. All are washable and made from cotton. Ronci’s website recommends them for personal use “during essential outings, like grocery, pharmacy, or doctor visits.” Priced at $19.99, this mask is another “buy one, donate one” opportunity. While delivery can take up to two weeks, the wait is worth it, and you’ll likely need a mask for the foreseeable future.
3. Adelle Stoll
Adelle Stoll is known up in Sonoma for her handbags, but now she’s making face masks out of wool felt. It sounds uncomfortable, but she notes on her website that wool felt has been used as industrial filtration for decades. The mask, named “The Rise,” is washable, antibacterial, and biodegradable. Even though this one is at a higher price point, $48, it’s touted for its durability. For each wool mask purchased, one cotton mask will be donated to a medical facility. The bright colors are also refreshing in these darker times.
Adelle Stoll Rise Project Face Mask
4. Sonson
Oakland designer Rashima Sonson’s label, Sonson, is known for funky printed bow ties, but for now, she’s turned to making masks with matching head wraps. These 100% cotton masks are made from quilting or African wax print fabric. The wrap measures 22 by 71 inches. The mask and wrap sets cost $42.25 and are made in Oakland.
Sonson Reversible Mask and Head Wrap Set
5. Rickshaw Bags
If you’re missing the vibe of the Haight and need a little tie dye in your life, these masks are for you. Made by San Francisco–based Rickshaw Bags, these hand-sewn masks feature groovy designs that match the spirit of the bags and neighborhood we love so much. Made by professional sewers using high-quality materials in the company’s small San Francisco factory, these masks go for $22 each.
