As the days go on, we’re settling into to our new normal due to COVID-19. That includes a lot of things, but one thing that could change the way we dress forever: face masks. As the disease continued to spread throughout the world, the CDC advised everyone to wear face coverings, especially in spaces where social distancing can’t be enforced, thus a lot of brands turned to creating face masks. From various prints to sustainable cloths, designers and brands have been getting creative.
For Teen Vogue Generation Next alum, Tia Adeola when the virus hit she didn’t feel right creating without making safety her main source of inspiration. Being quarantined in Nigeria with her family quickly turned from excitement to worry, she realized she was in a country with a military lockdown and away from her creative space with little to no resources to run her business as usual. As the lockdown eased up, she got back to creating and face masks were first up, however face coverings aren’t new to Adeola. In past collections and even during her debut New York Fashion Week show, models donned pearl adorned veils. But, now she’s pivoted to making face coverings for our safety from COVID-19. Adeola’s signature design has style has always been ethereal ruffles, sheer garbs, and creations inspired by the Renaissance period. So, that’s what she turned to when COVID-19 hit. “I began to do some research on masks worn during my favorite period, the Renaissance and explored ways I could incorporate my ruffle silhouette into what seemed to be a pain that we are now required to wear,” Adeola tells Teen Vogue.
That’s when her ruffle face masks were born. Adeola took inspiration from the lace adorned, ruffle face coverings that were artistically designed in the Renaissance days and put her own twist on it. She created washable ribbed masks embellished with her signature ruffles complete with a velcro fastening. “I wanted to make people have no choice but to want to stay safe and take the necessary precautions because the masks looked so good that they just wanted to wear them simply for fashion purposes,” Adeola says. After posting one photo to Instagram, to Adeola’s surprise it went viral and one color immediately sold out. But, luckily for those who want to get their hands on one of Adeola’s coveted masks, white and black are still available. As a member of Gen-Z, Tia tells Teen Vogue, “I have to play my part now more than ever, we all do,” so she is exploring Covid-19 relief funds to donate 75% of her face masks profit to.
Source : https://www.teenvogue.com/story/tia-adeolas-face-mask
