Ninoshka Alvares-Delaney, an award winning fashion designer based in Saligao, has been running her eponymous clothing label that focuses on sustainable fashion for the last four years. ‘Fashion with a conscience’ is the leitmotif of her label. Little did she know that this vision would move her to make handmade face masks – the current accessory that all of us are to embrace, as the mouth and nose, the two most innocuous body parts are now deemed private and ordered to be covered in battling the coronavirus scourge.
Moved by the distressful situation that the lockdown created; her husband, Ashley Delaney who is her support system even in the fashion business, quickly got into community relief work for the stranded migrant and daily wage workers – a significantly large group in Saligao and neighbouring areas of Nagoa and Calangute. Ninoshka recounts, “Ashley was very involved in the relief work, along with a few others in our area and while delivering essential supplies, he realised how difficult this situation was for the poor and lesser privileged. He also realised that there was a huge requirement for masks. Moreover, the availability of masks was scarce and many of them couldn’t even afford to buy them.”
This led Ninoshka to use scrap fabric that was lying in her unit and between her tailor and herself, she started making basic cotton masks. “We started by making 20-40 masks a day and distributed them for free initially, especially to this lot of displaced people.” Soon, police personnel, security guards and even the Indian Medical Association (Bardez) started approaching them. She narrates, “To support my tailor and cover costs, we started charging a nominal rate and the funds are reinvested in making more masks. We also had a barter system where people gave us cloth and we made masks for them.” She chuckles, “It didn’t strike us to keep a count since our aim was to just get it out.”
The mask design also evolved with time and now Ninoshka has two variants – a regular pleated which is double layered and another which has three layers and can be used by frontline health workers. She reveals, “We’ve had doctors reaching out to us; many of them will be starting their clinics soon and need masks for their support staff as well.” While these masks cannot be compared to the medical grade N95 respirator masks which are touted as providing optimal protection from airborne particles and from liquid contaminating the face; it definitely is a good barrier and is strongly recommended by health authorities world over, including India for daily use.
Half amused, Ninoshka adds, “This is going to be our way of life for sometime. As long as this virus is a threat, we will have to use face masks.” Commenting on the quality, she shares, “We don’t compromise on the quality and ensure that it’s 100% cotton and is washable, reusable and can be sterilised.” While Ashley is exhausted with the relentless outreach work, he is also overwhelmed by the support of the community, “Through whatsapp we reached out to people and it was heartening to see the number of individuals and institutions like hotels who contributed fabric so willingly for this cause.” After a quick calculation he conjures, “We’ve made nearly 2000 masks and there’s been a continuous demand.”
With masks, being the new ‘must have’ accessory, it’s no surprise that fashion labels world over are now introducing designer face masks, allowing a hint of self expression in these dour times. “Our masks are reasonably priced and for every one mask that is sold, we try to give two free to those who can’t afford it,” avers Ninoshka.
Whether a fashion trend or not, the bare fact is that masks seem to be essential and having access to these locally made ones could well be our safety blanket in these anxious times. Now, is just the right time to keep the mask on and not let it slip!
