Fashion and maker communities stitch face masks to help during pandemic
Noted New York City fashion designer Christian Siriano of “Project Runway” fame shared on social media that he has a full sewing team at the ready to make masks for those on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19.
That tweet turned into a lifeline. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo accepted the offer and took to Twitter to invite more to join him. Rachel Romey and Brandon Maxwell are among the designers who’ve answered the call.
Meanwhile, in Italy — which is enduring its own battle with the virus — luxury fashion label Prada has switched its focus from sheath dresses and scarves to surgical masks.
Several members of Pittsburgh’s fashion community are following in their footsteps. Meet three groups that are using their talents to cut and sew masks for health care professionals and others who need them locally and beyond.
412PPE
Designer Diana Misetic of Little Black Dress in Shadyside teamed with ophthalmologist Deval “Reshma” Paranjpe and seamstress Constance Paras to launch 412PPE, a reference to Pittsburgh and the acronym for personal protective equipment.
“We want to make sure any health care provider who needs a mask has a mask,” said Dr. Paranjpe, who learned from colleagues and social media about the dire need for masks at hospitals. “There are physicians out there who are afraid of giving this disease to their parents and killing them or to their children.”
Ms. Misetic, who specializes in custom pieces, has cleared her studio to make room for their maskmaking efforts. She invited some of her former students from the nowdefunct Art Institute of Pittsburgh to help. Her son, Dino, is helping with marketing, and Franco “Dok” Harris is providing seed funding. Attorney John Renda is offering legal advice. Ms. Paras works with a network of sewing circles across the country that’s also pitching in.
“What it reminds me of is like during World War II. We have an army of Rosie the Riveters putting these masks together,” Dr. Paranjpe said. “These health care
providers are our front-line soldiers, and they have no armor.”
To get started, they’re using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines to make surgical face masks. Ms. Misetic also is working on a prototype for a mask that can accommodate a filter, similar to the indemand N95 that filters out airborne viral particles.
“We make no claims that this is a medical device. We make no claims that this is effective in preventing viral transmission,” Dr. Paranjpe said, “but common sense tells you that this barrier is better than no barrier at all.”
Eventually, 412PPE plans to have its new mask designs safety tested and formally approved. In the meantime, they’re reaching out to find homes for the ones they’ve made. Masks will either be donated or sold for a price that covers just the cost of materials.
“I want to make sure the same situation that’s happening in New York and on the West Coast [with mask shortages] does not happen to Pittsburgh,” Dr. Paranjpe said.
Kiya Tomlin Work/Shop
Designer Kiya Tomlin saw a social media post about hospitals in other states putting out requests for mask donations.
“I was like, ‘Oh wow, that’s something I can do,’” she said.
She owns and operates the Kiya Tomlin Work/ Shop, her studio and showroom in Etna that’s temporarily closed in response to COVID-19. She decided to enlist the four sewers on her payroll to work from their respective homes to help her make washable fabric masks for Allegheny Health Network. They’ve also been asked to create surgical caps, which cut back on face touching because they help keep hair in place.
After lots of research, she decided using the CDC’s mask guidelines would be the most efficient way to churn out masks. She’s using a tightly woven cotton and elastic to make them.
“These will be used for hospital support staff, people who are not directly in the front line of fire but still need a level of protection,” Ms. Tomlin said. That way, higher-grade masks like the N95 can go to medical professionals who are treating patients.
She’s aiming to make about 500 in a week. Each mask takes about five to eight minutes to make, Ms. Tomlin said. She’s already had to place an order for more elastic.
“We’ll just keep making them until we can’t make any more, I guess,” she said.
(mask) Makers PGH
Nonprofits Radiant Hall and Protohaven have tapped into their connections in Pittsburgh’s maker community to create (mask)Makers PGH. Knotzland, KerfCase, Firecracker Fabrics, The Iron Horse Atelier and Pittsburgh Center for Creative Reuse are among those making them or providing materials for those who are.
Amanda Vereb, who owns and operates The Iron Horse Atelier in Lawrenceville, came on board when her bridal alterations and tailoring business came to what she called “a grinding halt” because of COVID-19. She’s making 100% cotton or linen face masks that adhere to the CDC guidelines. Anyone can buy them. “They’re not surgical grade,” she said. “This is to help everyone kind of go outside” and feel more protected.
She’s selling them for $15 in adult, children and infant sizes. For every mask someone purchases, she’s donating one to (mask)Makers PGH’s pool of them.
Beyond providing a layer of safety, she hopes her masks add some fun to an uncertain situation. Some of the fabrics she’s sourced from Firecracker Fabrics in Morningside are brightly colored or have whimsical prints, like kittens, on them.
“I think a pop of color and some patterns are essential [in a time like] this,” she said.
Those interested in volunteering to sew from home or making a donation of money or materials can visit maskmakerspgh.org to learn more.