16 April 2020

Vienna insight: The fashion of masks after one month restrictive Covid-19 measures

The non-medical face mask is probably the fastest-selling clothing piece in Austria's history. It was worn after around a month of the coronavirus outbreak by almost everybody. During the weeks since the first restrictive measures were set by the Austrian government on 13th March to flatten the curve of the coronavirus outbreak, Vienna-based designers and independent labels, artists started successively with the production of non-medical face masks. After around one month, it became obligatory to wear a mask during grocery shopping. Since this week the 14th April, fashion, shoe, jewelry,... stores under 400 square meters are open again and wearing masks appears to be already common for the population. Currently it looks as if this textile piece won't go out of fashion in the near future.

Image: Award winning designer Eva Poleschinski is especially known for red carpet fashion, exclusive ball gowns, wedding dresses and collaborations like with the Austrian terry toweling brand Vossen. The picture shows the designer with her label's collection of masks made from a wide range of different fabrics. The masks are available via evapoleschinski.at. Photo: © Eva Poleschinski.


Additional note: Vienna-based art documentation platform Esel.at publishes a list of producers, from local heroes over designers to artists, of non-medical face masks at esel.at/seite/27.