Taxi Designs in Dandenong Plaza has launched a fashionable range of face masks
The jury may be out on the need for non-medical-grade masks but Dandenong store Taxi Designs has decided if the public wants them they should be fun and fashionable. And the shop manager says hand-making them has given her fresh purpose.
South East
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A Dandenong fashion retailer has launched its own range of reusable face masks.
Taxi Designs at Armada Dandenong Plaza has launched its line of fashionable face masks including flamingo, animal print and polka dot designs, costing $5 each.
Store manager Connie Stylianou said she created them after seeing a growing need for them.
“I thought this is it, I have to start sewing them myself. Of course I had to make sure they had a fashion twist to them,” Ms Stylianou said.
She said the masks were not medical grade masks, but instead acted as a preventive measure.
“They prevent you from touching your face as there is two layers of cotton over your face. “They help from preventing transmission from infected surfaces, so your touch the cotton and not your face.”
Ms Stylianou said a customer had gifted her a sewing machine after seeing her attempt to repair an old one.
“After receiving the free sewing machine I started sewing the masks every night.”
“It has given me a new sense of purpose in these troubled times and it feels good to
provide a product the community really needs.”
Associate Professor Dr Deb Friedman, a senior lecturer at Deakin University and infectious disease consultant at Barwon Health, said there were no Australian recommendations to wear face masks made from cotton.
“The masks that people overseas are recommended to wear in public aren’t medical grade masks, everybody agrees that medical grade masks should be reserved for frontline workers.
Dr Friedman said there was some rationale behind wearing face masks.
“It does provide some barrier between your mouth and nose and other people that you’re interacting with.”
“It may also be a deterrent from touching your face.”
The reusable face masks are available in store at Taxi Designs on Level
3 at Armada Dandenong Plaza or you can place an order for delivery by calling:
9792 4105.