How masks became a fashion staple and sign of trust

By Abigail Portwood

During the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic, nobody really knew the effectiveness of the face mask. There were many opposing views on the use of masks to prevent the spread of Covid, and the American public was very divided.

Although there are some mask-deniers in the country, most people have followed the guidelines and wear their masks in public. The trust that the health organizations built with the American people benefitted both the public and the companies who sell the masks.

Many companies took the stance that masks are an effective tool. Whether that’s for the company’s benefit to sell masks to more people or their genuine concern for the spreading over Covid-19, either way it has proved beneficial.

The many infographics that circle social media on a daily basis give information on the opinions that wearing a mask is a very important step. The social pressure from peers, social circles and the online voice combined with the recommendations from the CDC (Center for Disease Control) and the WHO (World Health Organization), many people think that they must wear a mask just to avoid criticism and fear from others.

Realistically, whatever the reasoning for mask-wearing is is less important than the fact that people are wearing them. 10 months into the pandemic, we now have enough information to understand that masks really do help minimize the spread–if everyone wears one. According to George Rutherford at the UCSF, “We should have told people to wear cloth masks right off the bat.”

Almost every clothing company in existence has created a line of masks. If you take a quick look on the internet, you can find any type, color and style of mask that you want. Stores like Nike, Athleta and Anthropologie make masks that serve many different groups of people. As long as the masks are required in certain stores, and in some states everywhere you go, there are many choices from brands that have built strong connections to their publics in multiple ways during the pandemic.

https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/417906/still-confused-about-masks-heres-science-behind-how-face-masks-prevent