Are you wearing a good face mask?

Wearing a face mask becomes recommended or required in many countries as they start to open up. If you have to get one, why not get a good one?

Good Krama produces masks that are good x3. They are making cloth masks with their ethical partner studio in Cambodia as their talented garment makers are working from home during these difficult times. This gives the workers possibly to keep earning something doubt the restrictions. The masks are made from dead-stock fabric that would otherwise end up in a landfill. So, these masks are good for the people and the planet. On top, Good Krama is donating 30% of the mask sales to the World Health Organization.

Why is it essential that these masks are made in Cambodia?

Countries shut down since March 2020, when people were asked to practice social distancing to stop the spread of the virus, which had impacts on all industries, including fashion. With physical shopping restricted and people tightening their wallets, many fashion companies had to do the same. In the sustainable fashion world, we saw the unruly side effect on the suppliers when many fast fashion companies canceled their orders. Factories have closed, and garment workers been laid off with little to no help. In Cambodia, hundreds of thousands of workers have lost their jobs. Many other Southeast Asian countries are struggling with similar faiths. Fashion Revolution reports that 1 million workers in Bangladesh alone have lost their jobs.

The team behind the production of our masks in Cambodia.

Still not convinced you'll wear a mask?

Currently, World Health Organization recommends maintaining at least 1-meter distance between yourself and others. The reason is that when someone coughs, sneezes, or speaks, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth, which may contain the virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus, if the person has the disease. When keeping distance is not possible, wearing a face mask can help. CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering when shopping or in other spaces where 1,5m distance is not possible. As currently, many countries are facing shortages of medical masks, those must be reserved for hospitals. That is why a cloth mask is a good option for personal use. A fabric cloth mask can significantly reduce the number of droplets you spray in the air.

Wearing a mask does not replace basic hygiene rules. You should continue to wash your hands, avoid touching your face and try to keep 1,5m distance. Masks are an additional way to protect yourself but even more others. These times we have to look out for each other and be kind.

Written by: Katharina

Sources:

https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-brings-trouble-to-cambodias-garment-industry/a-53284224

https://www.fashionrevolution.org/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-people-who-make-our-clothes/

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24229526

image credit: https://goodkrama.com/

http://www.lauresque.com/ for https://www.thegreenlabels.com/