Covering up stylishly

THE virus strips away a little bit of ourselves every day — including half our faces. When our faces are covered, how can we continue to express ourselves? For some designers, the answer is chic face masks.

At a time like this masks allow a certain freedom. As Chuck Palahniuk writes in the novel Invisible Monsters: “In the way our world is, everybody shoulder to shoulder, people knowing everything about you at first glance, a good veil is your tinted limousine window. The unlisted number for your face. Behind a good veil, you could be anyone. A movie star. A saint.”

BusinessWorld has put together a listing of sources for stylish masks below, but note that since a lot of them are not medical grade, it may be best to wear a filter or a second surgical mask underneath them. has the Bagong Pag-Asa mask, a triplelayered mask made with indigenous fabric, with a nose-pinch wire, soft garters for the ears, and six non-woven filters. Order through Facebook @zarah821.

KELVIN MORALES

Designer Kelvin Morales, who we admire for his barongs, is releasing a line of masks embroidered with a Death’s-head hawkmoth (like in Silence of the Lambs). A portion of the sales will go to a charity helping out “no work, no pay” workers. Order through Instagram @kelvinmmorales.

BASIC MOVEMENT

For just the right amount of quirk, Basic Movement is offering masks printed with polka dots, or else eggs; or in denim. Several other patterns are also available. They are made by local brands such as Proudrace and Vina Romero, and a portion of the proceeds go toward providing N95 masks for frontliners. Order through Instagram @basicmovement.