In mid-February I was getting ready to launch our spring collection online and we were in full production to meet the demands of my wholesale accounts across the country – then, in early March, everything changed dramatically. We closed our store and sadly witnessed our wholesale partners and retail neighbors had to do the same in order to help secure the health and well-being of our communities.

In between all of that, I was asked to make face masks (cloth face coverings) for a local organization because they weren’t getting the supplies they needed to keep their employees and clients safe. For the past few weeks we have been working to deliver much needed cloth face coverings to their team. We’re gearing up for more orders from small companies deemed essential and independent grocers in our community.

Because we have the fine weave cotton in stock that works for this type of face cover and there is demand, we decided to pivot and devote as much time as we need to produce and supply friends, business associates and loved ones, and that includes you. Please note, they are very labor intensive so be patient – we are prioritizing deliveries to small organizations and businesses who work directly with the public and will ship your order to you as soon as possible. In the meantime, there are countless websites offering how-to make and improvise cloth face coverings.

I have tested and worn our cloth face covering throughout the workday and when I have to go out in public. I find that wearing it provides some security to know that I’ve taken an additional step to slow the spread of COVID-19 to a store clerk, a pharmacist, a fellow worker, or another human being.  I hope that by making and providing essential workers and our customers cloth face coverings it frees up more N-95 and surgical masks for healthcare workers and medical first responders in need of these critical supplies. The added pocket inside our cloth face covering is for a removable layer made of breathable non-woven polyester.   

CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measured are difficult to maintain.  Cloth face coverings are NOT guaranteed to stop or prevent COVID-19 but may offer added protection when worn. Cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance.

Thank you to Tom McAdam, Jolene McGowan, Flannery McAdam, Kevin Brooks and Winky Lewis for their talent and skills with this project. And to Dad, Tom, David – put your damn masks on when you go to the grocery store. Be well,