Seemingly innumerable stores, restaurants and thousands of other public spaces across the country–least, those of which are still open–have now required customers to wear masks inside their businesses. While orders by local governments have mandated public mask-wearing all the while, outside of the clear benefits in reducing the exposure of COVID-19, it seems that masks have quickly become a paramount part of our, well, “everyday fashion.” 

“Experts are increasingly suggesting that masks may need to be worn for at least a year, until a vaccine is developed,” said Vanessa Friedman of the Times.

With masks becoming an essential component of our everyday outfits, it seems necessary to count masks as part of a new wave in 21st century fashion. 

COVID-19 has left many clothing companies at a loss for profit due to their stores being required to be closed due to the virus–yet, they have turned their efforts toward protecting healthcare workers and Americans across the country. 

The masks are made out of a variety of fabrics such as silk, elastic, denim and polyester. All types of these masks can be purchased on a variety of websites, such as mask.club.com, which has various licensing deals with well known companies like popular cartoon and superhero brands, Hello Kitty, Superman, NASA and  many others. 

These, of which customers can purchase at a  price of $9.99 per month, give people a safe and fashionable outfit addition when leaving the house.

Many other brands have been offering their own fashionable masks; for example, brands such as Stacy Bendet of Alice + Olivia have been making animal and floral print masks for as low as $12.95, while some higher-end brands, such as Collina Strada, have been making them from deadstock with giant bows on the side for $100.

Truly, there are  masks for every individual style and budget. 

Although wearing a mask is not mandatory in all cities and countries around the world, many cities and countries with high-density populations, such as New York and New Jersey; countries, such as Austria and the Czech Republic; have mandated citizens be required to wear masks.

With the possibility of the required continuation of wearing masks in public, it is evident that, outside of being a part of our newfound fashion, they can also be seen as a social contract among people all over the world. Of course, it is everyone’s role to do their part to protect themselves and one another from the spread of the virus: from healthcare workers wearing masks to treat and protect themselves from patients in hospitals to people wearing them anywhere in public to flatten the curve.

Although many textile companies have happened to benefit financially from their production of masks, many have followed an initiative to donate one mask to a healthcare worker for every mask purchased.

As of now, leaving the house without a mask seems like a growing part of the world’s distant past. Although now mandatory in major cities and countries around the world, the required mask-wearing era we are currently living through can be seen as a way to not only segue a steady end to COVID-19, but  also as one giving people an opportunity  to express their individuality while being mandated to wear a mask.