When Covid-19 struck in March quite a few fashion companies had to readapt and some of them started making face masks. In February Japanese Hasegawa Corporation in Ichinomiya City, Aichi Prefecture, responded to the shortage of mask supply in Japan and started researching the possibility of creating a mask with its yarns.
More famous for its silk-based yarns and knit products and specialised also in cashmere and mohair, Hasegawa usually showcases its products during Pitti Filati in Florence, but this year's edition of the yarn trade fair was cancelled and the yarns for the next season were showcased by 37 exhibitors (Hasegawa included) virtually on Pitti's digital platform.
So, while the fair events booked for this year were cancelled, the company mainly focused on research and first developed a handmade silk mask kit for people who wanted to try and make their own masks using a pattern and silk knit jersey fabric (90% silk, 10% polyurethane) developed by Hasegawa itself.
As the weeks passed, the company developed first a washable silk or cotton inner cloth for masks (made on Shima Seiki's flat knitted machine) to prevent makeup transfer and sebum on face masks, and then a silk smooth mask, made with high-quality silk knitted jersey fabric and created using automatic knitting machines. These masks are characterised by excellent durability and can be washed and reused.
Research continued till the production of a 3D silk mask made using Shima Seiki's Wholegarment flat knitting machine. The first masks produced by Hasegawa were originally created to protect the mouth and nose of the wearer while coughing or sneezing to prevent the spread of germs, but a test carried out in April in Japan proved that the 3D silk mask guarantees also a pollen block rate of 92%.
The fancy knit masks, the latest products made by Hasegawa to respond to the Covid-19 pendemic, are aimed at both adults who love colours and textures, and children: these colourful masks made with fluffy "Fix" (100% cotton) or "Bouquet" (silk and nylon) yarns, are characterised by a colourful outer layer, while inside the masks are still 100% silk.
While it is worth remembering that these masks are not medical devices, but they can be still be used to reduce the spread of germs and they can prove more comfortable than disposable masks especially for people with skin conditions, it is only natural to wonder if further companies producing yarns will move onto face masks or will introduce this accessory as well. Time, as usual, will tell, but, in the meantime, please stay safe and keep on wearing a face mask.
Comments