‘In Masks Outrageous and Austere’
I’M brazenly borrowing this title from the last full-length play of Tennessee Williams (1911-1983). The prolific American playwright described it as “nightmarish,” “extremely funny” and “bizarre as hell.” His frenemy, Gore Vidal, said the subject was about death and corporate greed. A Williams scholar, Linda Dorff, considered the play as having an “apocalyptic conspiracy plot.”
The title, incidentally, was lifted from the last stanza of Elinor Morton Wylie’s poem, “Let No Charitable Hope”: “In masks outrageous and austere/ The years go by in single file;/but none has merited my fear,/and none has quite escaped my smile.”
Quite apropos for our Covid times, as the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is still studying the effectiveness of face masks. It has deemed that the most effective fabrics for cloth masks are tightly woven fabrics, such as cotton and cotton blends that are breathable, and have two or three fabric layers. The less effective fabrics for cloth masks are loosely woven fabrics, such as loose knit fabrics, difficult-to-breathe-through materials (like plastic or leather), and those with a single layer.
The Filipino designer, in responding to the pandemic, made face masks that are either protective or decorative. Outrageous or austere in design, the masks are always made with the trademark Filipino creative flourish. And because our hapless country is languishing last on the Covid-19 vaccine list, the masks make for fantastic, pragmatic gifts as we enter 2021.
Nardie Montoya Presa created “Heritage” masks. “The masks are a photocopy of indigenous materials laid down on 90-percent polyester and 10-percent cotton,” he shared. “The three-ply material includes a washable filter. Fashionable, washable and easy to handle.”
Joel Rosales used white twill fabric, 60-percent polyester and 40-percent cotton for his colorful Philippine flora and fauna mask series. They were achieved by sublimation printing using nontoxic and sublimation ink. “Even if you try to blow a candle while wearing the mask, there’s no air coming out from it.”
Jaz Cerezo (@jazskinz) released sensuous masks designed to unleash your animal instincts. In crocodile, leopard, raven and python, her premium quality jacquard masks are lined with Swiss cotton. Jet Salcedo (@jetsalcedo0214), of Iloilo City, created a mask of pearls to indulge his capricious streak.
To fight prejudice and the pandemic, you can wear the cotton-jersey Roel Rosal (@roelrosal) face mask with Pride.
In a prescient move, Jun-jun Ablaza (@ablazablaze) of Ablaze Artcessories made a leather mask with studs and spikes pre-pandemic. Always edgy and forward-thinking, Mara Chua (@maraxchua) unleashed “Dragun,” a fantasy mask in faux silver metallic leather with spikes and stones.
In his denim “Lumad” series, Christopher Lim Zamora of Davao City was inspired by his signature clay beads he calls “Orden de Vida,” his current prêtà-porter collection: “After all, wearing masks is the new normal.”
The “Bark and White” masks by Vic Barba (@barba.fashion) will delight dog lovers: “All our masks have bendable nose clips for better fit and protection. Aside from its outer lining, our masks have interlined webbing which acts as a filter. They have been blow-tested and prewashed. They are washable and durable, light and surprisingly breathable.”
For his fall/winter 2020 bridal collection, “Impalpable Dream of Hope”, Michael Cinco went sustainable during the lockdown: “The lace and embroidered tulle, and the crystals I used were from the extra materials that I found from my past collections,” he told The Filipino Times.
Catriona Gray, Miss Universe 2018, pushed for the nonmedical-grade mask from the Belo Medical Group (shop.belomed.com): “The proceeds will be donated to Young Focus, a charity dear to my heart that tackles poverty and sponsors education for Filipino children in need.”
Miss Universe Philippines 2020 Rabiya Mateo, meanwhile, gave a friendly reminder: “Wear your mask, drink your vitamins and stay healthy, everybody! [I’m] wearing a high-quality mask made by Randy Ortiz (@randy_e_ortiz) for Aerian Essentails (@aerian.essentials) with nano silver technology that kills the virus and protects the body. [A] perfect Christmas gift to your special someone.”