Protection to fashion

A 6”x4” piece of fabric versus an invisible invader — as countries worldwide continue to battle Covid-19, face masks have emerged as the first line of defence for those venturing out of homes. It wasn’t so long ago — less than three months — that it was almost an offence for non-medical workers to wear one, here in Canada, with officials and health experts warning it would provide no protection and could actually prove harmful if not used properly, citing advice from the World Health Organization.

Mask advocates pointed to widespread use in Southeast Asian countries, which had mostly managed to check an explosive spread of the disease; photos showing the use of masks in public spaces during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 were dug up. The official advice then changed to accommodate the use of non-medical masks where social distancing was not possible, with the clarification that the masks were not meant to protect the wearers so much as those around them. Now, there are reports of many cities and public spaces actually insisting on the use of masks.

The change has been swift: When I flew back to Toronto from Chennai via Frankfurt in the first week of March, I encountered fewer than a dozen people in masks at the three airports and on the two flights. By the time my husband returned to Toronto from Delhi less than three weeks later, on one of the last flights before India’s first lockdown started, he found every single person at the airports and on the flight had a mask on.

The words of caution still apply — masks are not a substitute for social distancing, regular hand-washing, and crucially, keeping unsanitised hands off one’s face. They must be worn and taken off properly to ensure any contaminated surfaces don’t to­u­ch the face, and if reusable, washed re­gularly. But even with all the caveats, masks have now become part of the dress code for many while stepping out. Weeks ago, as the pandemic gathered speed and countries scrambled to procure N95 masks and personal pr­otective equipment for their health care workers, the simple, non-medical masks disappeared off the shelves as well.

Soon, the movement towards masking became a social mission for many, as people used their suddenly abundant free time churning out cloth masks at home to distribute to those who needed them. Social media exploded with videos of how to make your own masks, with or without sewing. Many millennials may have caught their first glimpse of a sewing machine. Now, with the realisation that masks may be needed for months to come, supplies are gradually ramping up.

The lifesaver is also becoming a fashion accessory. Why not add some cheer to a chore? All over the world, independent fashion brands, small business owners and artists have created masks with a sense of fun, fashion and humour. In India, masks adorned with Madhubani, Kalamkari and Ikat art are now available, providing work to traditional artisans. Many haute couture houses in the West are producing masks for health care workers, but have been wary of selling designer masks, not wanting to add frivolity to what is after all, a deadly crisis. But mass market brands like the Gap and Old Navy have jumped in, with their printed cotton masks on back order for a few weeks. There are also masks with transparent plastic panels over the mouth to help those who rely on lip reading to communicate. For those who can’t get their hands on a mask just yet, there are frequent visual reminders from leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi that  angavas­trams, gamosas and scarves can double up as makeshift masks as long as they are secured properly.

Where there’s demand, there’s usually a start-up. A Toronto design studio raised $100,000 to produce 3D-printed masks using artificial intelligence to provide custom fits. At the University of British Columbia, researchers are testing a medical grade N95 mask using local wood fibres, which will be compostable and biodegradable. Face masks could be one of the growth sectors amidst grave economic setbacks worldwide. The only ones who might object to this trend could be cosmetics firms hawking lipsticks, as the hot corals, berry purples and passion pinks stay invisible behind masks.

Masking is also upending social norms — I can no longer greet neighbours with a smile, and instead have to wave or nod vigorously. A practice with traditionally negative connotations has suddenly become considerate, required behaviour. I don’t mind wearing a mask as long as it takes, but who wouldn’t like to know how long it’s going to take? Ironically, though, it appears from the rapid spread of Covid-19 in various geographic, demographic and climatic conditions, that the one entity that has been scarily expert at masking its true identity is the novel coronavirus.

Kannan is a writer based in Toronto