It looks like we might be wearing masks for a while. COVID-19 hasn’t gone away even though some people act like it (much to my dismay and rapidly declining faith in humanity). But which ones to get? My Instagram feed is full of ads for reusable masks. And it seems like every fashion brand — even the big ones — have pivoted to mask-making, (Perhaps, it was so that they could call themselves “essential” to continue doing business.)
Here’s a list I put together based on notes I made as I shopped around for myself. I focused on ethical and sustainable brands and smaller local efforts. The details comes from the makers themselves, as I haven’t tried most of these masks myself.
** this post contains a few affiliate links **
If You’re Looking to Get the Most For Your Money
For Days
Price: 5 for $25 (black), 3 for $20 (assorted colors)
Size: Adult
Material: Organic cotton jersey from Turkey, 2 layers
Filter Pocket: Yes
Nose Wire: No
Straps: Elastic over the ears
Where They’re Made: Los Angeles
Give Back: For every package of 5 purchased, 5 will be donated in Los Angeles.
This start-up brand is all about closed-loop manufacturing. I bought a pack and found them to be lightweight. The pleats are easy to adjust over your chin. However, I realized that elastic ear loops get in the way if you wear glasses. These masks fit snugly on me and the fabric is right against my mouth. If you have a larger face, they’ll likely be too small.
Reformation
Price: 1 for $10, 5 for $25
Size: Adult
Material: Viscose/Rayon blend with polyester thread, no info on layers
Filter Pocket: No
Nose Wire: No
Straps: Fabric ties
Where They’re Made: Not stated
Give Back: For every mask bought in July, one will be donated to one of these orgs: Until We Do It, the White Mountain Apache Tribe, Los Angeles Mission Shelters, and the Los Angeles LGBT Center. You can also make a separate donation, which will also be matched.
When you order the 5-pack, you’ll get whatever colors or prints they have on hand. It’s a surprise! Reformation says they don’t make a profit on these packs. For a higher cost of $10 per mask you can choose the color or print. This generates a profit of $5, which helps Reformation retain jobs.
Parachute
Price: 5 for $30
Size: Adult
Material: Cotton, no info on layers
Filter Pocket: No
Nose Wire: No
Straps: Fabric ties
Where They’re Made: USA
Give Back: For every set sold, Parachute will donate a set through GetUsPPE and Safe Place for Youth.
These lightweight masks are made from the same fabric as their Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified sheets. Colors and patterns vary.
Refugee Artisan Initiative
Price: 2 for $20, 5 for $40
Size: Adult, Child
Material: Cotton, no info on layers
Filter Pocket: Yes
Nose Wire: No
Straps: Elastic over the ears
Where They’re Made: Pacific Northwest (the organization is based in Seattle)
Give Back: None. But their products support living wages for refugees and immigrants.
These pleated masks are sewn by refugee and immigrant women in Refugee Artisan Initiative’s workforce development program. No choice in colors or print. You’ll receive masks made from the fabric they have on hand. You can also purchase a materials kit for $15 to make your own masks. Recently, they embroidered some masks with “VOTE” or “BLM.” Those are $20 and proceeds benefit the ACLU.
Tonlé
Price: 5 for $28, 10 for $50, and other packs up to 1,000 for $1,750
Size: Adult
Material: Quilted cotton, 3 layers
Filter Pocket: No
Nose Wire: No
Straps: Fabric ties
Where They’re Made: Cambodia
Give Back: At first they did a 1-for-1 donation. However, they’ve since received some additional funding to make masks for donation.
This zero-waste brand creates handmade clothing and accessories in Cambodia out of recycled fabrics. They’re selling masks at cost to keep their sewers employed.
If You Wear Glasses
As someone who wears glasses, there’s a few extra requirements that I look for in a mask. For one, glasses fogging is real, so a nose wire is helpful for keeping the area at the top of the nose sealed. (It’s also good for keeping your exhalations inside your mask, which is the whole point of wearing a mask!) I also prefer straps that go around the head rather than on the ears. My glasses have literally fallen off my face when I put them on after donning a mask with ear straps. There just wasn’t enough room on my ears to comfortably fit both straps and glasses.
Baggu
Price: 3 for $32
Size: Adult
Material: Kona Quilter’s Cotton, 2 layers
Filter Pocket: Yes
Nose Wire: Yes
Straps: Fabric ties
Where They’re Made: Los Angeles
Give Back: For every pack purchased, a pack of surgical masks will be donated to healthcare workers through Masks4Medicine.
Baggu chose quilter’s cotton because its tight weave and thick thread are effective at blocking respiratory droplets while remaining breathable. The colorblocking on some of the masks is the result of working with different amounts of available fabric. I ordered a set for myself, and I do find them more breathable than regular cotton. However, the straps take some getting used to as you have to get the top part around the back of your head first before tying them. I prefer either elastic (if keeping this design) or four ties (if non-elastic.)
Graf Lantz
Price: $22
Size: Adult, Child
Material: Organic cotton twill or linen, 2 layers and an organic cotton poplin liner
Filter Pocket: Yes
Nose Wire: No
Straps: There are several styles, so you can get over-the-head elastic or adjustable ear loops
Where They’re Made: Los Angeles
Give Back: For every single mask purchased, 10 meals are donated to Feeding America.
This maker of wool felt home goods is making minimalist masks in solid colors. There are three different styles — all have nose bands and filter pockets — and a choice of cotton or linen. One of the styles has petite sizing. Plus, they also make masks for kids (with filter pockets, but not nose bands). The cotton twill is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified eco-friendly and sustainably processed during dyeing and finishing.
Proper Cloth
Price: 1 for $25, 3 for $50, 10 for $150, 60 for $800
Size: Adult (2 sizes)
Material: Cotton treated with an antimicrobial solution, 2 layers
Filter Pocket: Yes, comes with a polypropylene filter that can be washed 20 times
Nose Wire: Yes
Straps: Elastic around the head
Where They’re Made: Unclear, though their shirts are made in Vietnam
Give Back: One donated for every one purchased, but does not say to whom.
This brand makes made-to-order men’s shirts. Though this method of production is more sustainable than off-the-rack, I couldn’t find much info about their fabrics and manufacturing practices. They do seem to care about packaging, though. I’m including them because they made it onto Nisolo’s mask marketplace. Also, an acquaintance tried them and reported that these are the most comfortable masks he’s found. They allow a bit of room away from your face (crucial in warm weather), and have nose clips and elastic straps that go around the head. Available in tasteful neutrals and chambrays. One downside is the conspicuous branding via a label on one side.
Winter Session
Price: $14-$16 each or buy in packs: 4 for $48, 6 for $65, 10 for $100
Size: Adult, Child
Material: Densely woven cotton, 2 layers
Filter Pocket: Yes
Nose Wire: Yes
Straps: Fabric ties or nylon cord
Where They’re Made: Denver
Give Back: For every mask purchased, one will be donated to a health care provider through their Cover Up Colorado initiative.
Though I could not conclusively confirm whether this bag maker was a sustainable company, it appears that they make their goods by hand in a Denver workshop and try to use up scraps. Each mask also comes with two disposable polyester/nylon filters.
If You Want to Mask Up in Style
Amour Vert
Price: 3 for $50, 3 for $40 (mystery bundle or child size)
Size: Adult, Child
Material: Cotton or Modal, 2 layers
Filter Pocket: Yes for woven masks, but no for knit masks
Nose Wire: No
Straps: Elastic over the ears
Where They’re Made: USA
Give Back: Each purchase ensures an essential worker in the City of San Francisco will receive a non-medical grade mask.
These masks are made from deadstock fabrics and come in a variety of prints. From the reviews, it seems like the ear loops are large on many people, so you may have to adjust them by knotting them.
Amy Kuschel
Price: $20-$22 each
Size: Adult (2 sizes), Child
Material: Cotton or Cotton/Hemp blend, 3 layers
Filter Pocket: No
Nose Wire: Yes
Straps: Fabric ties that loop on the ears; the largest size has fabric ties that go around the head
Where They’re Made: San Francisco
Give Back: None
Amy Kuschel is a San Francisco-based custom bridal designer who pivoted to sustainable clothing last year. Her masks have lovey patterns from chambray to Liberty of London florals.
Aplat
Price: $24 (Get 20% off if you buy 10 or more)
Size: Adult
Material: 10 oz preshrunk organic duck cotton, 2 layers
Filter Pocket: Not a pocket exactly, but there’s an area to place a filter
Nose Wire: No
Straps: Braided cotton cord
Where They’re Made: San Francisco
Give Back: None
Aplat is a zero waste company that makes culinary products using origami principles to build volume through folds. Likewise, their masks have an origami design and are made from cotton fabric cutoffs. I like the minimalist look. If you are handy with a sewing machine, Aplat also shared their design.
Carol Young Undesigned
Price: $18-$25 each (For orders of 20 or more, use code MASK30 for a 30% discount.)
Size: Adult (2 sizes), Child
Material: Organic cotton, Japanese cotton, or a linen blend. All are lined in organic cotton
Filter Pocket: Yes
Nose Wire: Yes upon request
Straps: Fabric ties
Where They’re Made: Los Angeles
Give Back: For every mask purchased, one will be donated. They’ve donated to various places in need including the Angeles Community Health Center/Health Care for All, the Navajo Nation, Pueblo Action Alliance, postal workers, and many more. They also sewed and donated isolation gowns to local hospitals
Carol Young is a sustainable women’s clothing designer with a storefront in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles. She offers an array of fabrics. I especially like the Japanese quilt masks (shown above) and a limited edition mask for a fundraiser featuring a fabric design by artist Stephanie Dennis. The latter is sold out, but more fundraising projects are on the way. These masks are also good for those who wear glasses because of the option to include a nose wire.
Custom Collaborative
Price: $20-$28
Size: Adult
Material: Cotton, Tencel/Linen, or Tencel/Cotton
Filter Pocket: No
Nose Wire: No
Straps: Fabric ties
Where They’re Made: New York
Give Back: For every mask purchased, one will be donated to a frontline worker.
Custom Collaborative’s mission is to serve women from low-income and immigrant communities with training and ongoing support that equip them to achieve viable livelihoods in the fashion industry. 90% of their creations are made from repurposed and upcycled textiles. Designer Mara Hoffman is a longtime supporter and has teamed up to offer masks in a snake print and a floral print (shown above). Another collaboration with NiLu produced masks in upcycled fabrics with African prints.
Taylor Jay
Price: $21 each or buy in packs: 3 for $57 or 4 for $76
Size: Adult
Material: Cotton french terry
Filter Pocket: No
Nose Wire: No
Straps: Elastic over the ears
Where They’re Made: Oakland, CA
Give Back: None
This eponymous brand makes elevated basics in inclusive sizing. The business is family-run and has a store in Oakland. The two-tone design of many of the masks on offer remind me of gems. Made from repurposed cotton.
Whimsy + Row
Price: $10-$26 each
Size: Adult (2 sizes), Child
Material: Cotton
Filter Pocket: Yes for some designs, no for others
Nose Wire: Yes for some
Straps: Ear loops; some are adjustable
Where They’re Made: Los Angeles
Give Back: They donate to various Los Angeles organizations serving homeless people including Union Rescue Mission, Midnight Mission & Downtown Women’s Center.
Based in Los Angeles, this brand makes women’s clothing in small batches. They also offer two styles of masks. There’s plain white masks, costing $10 each. These come in a kids’ size and an XL adult size too and fit with elastic ear loops. Then there’s fancier masks made out of two layers of up-cycled cotton and one layer of polypropylene filter. These have nose wires, adjustable ear loops, filter pockets, and pretty prints.
If You’re Communicating with Someone Who is Deaf or Hard of Hearing
Mask the Bay
Price: $10-$12 each for most masks, $25 for communicator mask
Size: 4 Total: Adult (2 sizes), Youth, Toddler
Material: Cotton, Plus vinyl for communicator mask
Filter Pocket: Yes for most masks, No for communicator mask
Nose Wire: No
Straps: Elastic around the head
Where They’re Made: Oakland, CA
Give Back: None at this time, but you can add a donation to your purchase. They’ve also donated 5,000 masks to 60 Bay Area hospitals and hundreds more to vulnerable populations.
Mask the Bay employs local garment workers in Oakland to sew masks, many from salvaged fabrics. This is one of the few places I’ve seen offering a communicator mask, which has a clear window over the mouth for lip reading and facial cues.
More Resources
Nisolo has a mask marketplace with lots of different options, which they rated on style, comfort, functionality, breathability, and sustainability.
Etsy is full of sellers making face masks, including clear communicator masks. Like all things Etsy, quality varies, so make sure to read the reviews and examine the photos. You can shop by location to buy from someone in your community.
