Best Cloth Face Masks From Brands Giving Back

Keys, wallet, phone—check, check, check. And now, there’s another item to bring before stepping out for essential errands: face masks. It’s been more than two months (!) since I’ve been in quarantine in the suburbs, grateful to be safe, and still adjusting to the new rules of this new unpredictable world we’re living in. 

What helps is knowing that we’re all in this together. Hopefully, the more we motivate each other to stay safe, the more we can decrease the spread of the coronavirus. 

Since the CDC’s recommendation to wear face masks in public settings, more brands have been coming out with surprisingly chic versions. Might as well choose ones that can help brighten the mood, right? Designers have been thinking outside the box on their mask creations, many even using leftover fabrics from past collections. And better yet, a number of brands are donating a percentage of sales to support charities. 

Just a note that cloth face masks don’t offer the same protection as medical-grade ones (which should be saved for healthcare workers) but are still helpful to limit the spread of germs. Plus, cloth masks are reusable after wash, which makes it a sustainable option for places like the supermarket. 

Scroll on to shop cloth face masks from brands who are giving back to worthy causes.

Where to Shop Cloth Face Masks From Brands Giving Back

1) Pretty Connected

Let’s face it, wearing a mask can be inconvenient and easy to lose if you take it on and off. But my friend Lara Eurdolian, founder of Pretty Connected has a brilliant solution. Her line of multi-use chains—which originally launched as camera straps and also used as holders for cell phones and water bottles—coincidentally works as the perfect mask strap! It’ll keep your mask in place and, really, just looks cooler.

It comes in two lengths and the longer one can wrap around your neck. Choose from colors including gold, silver, and an iridescent mermaid hue. Another thing worth noting: the chains won’t tarnish and is built to last. See how she wears it here. For every sale, the brand is now donating 10% to COVID-19 related relief organizations.

Pretty Connected Lara Chain Multi-Use Strap (Long), $36, and Mini Chain Multi-Use Strap (Mini), $30 (Shop Now)

2) Kitsch

Yet another brand evolving with the times is Kitsch, created by Cassandra Thurswell. In addition to satin pillowcases, jewelry, hair and wellness accessories, they recently launched soft cotton face masks. These come in a pack of three and available in three colorways (neutral, leopard, and blush). 

Kitsch is donating $10,000 worth of masks to hairstylists and salons. Their goal is to help employees feel more comfy as they begin working again. 

Kitsch Face Masks, $12 for three (Shop Now)

3) Luminora

I’ll most likely be using my Luminora face mask for running outside since the material is the most lightweight and breathable. The brand, founded by Azadeh Hendi, a former attorney, and Ali Hendi, a board-certified dermatologist, focuses on UV protective clothing for women.

Made with proprietary Luminology Technology fabric, the face masks are also UV protective and blocks out 98% of UVA/UVB rays. Plus, it’s antimicrobial and dries quickly after wash. Prints range from leopard and camouflage to classic solid colors.

As for sizing, it comes in XS, S, M, and L. There’s a mask that can fit every member of your family. For each mask sold, Luminora is donating one mask to a frontline worker in need.

Luminora Face Mask, $15 (Shop Now)

4) 41 Winks

When this 41 Winks face mask came in the mail, it made my day because: 1) the gorgeous white and oatmeal-colored print, and 2) the fact that the brand is donating 5% of the purchase price of each mask to First Responders First. This helps provide essential supplies, equipment, accommodations child care, food, mental health support and other resources for protecting frontline healthcare workers and their patients. 

Created by Olivia White, 41 Winks is known for their cushiony eye masks with fun sayings like “Disco Nap” and “Beauty Nap”. And it uses the same level of quality for their face masks. Each consists of three layers of protection: one layer of filter fabric surrounded by two layers of 100% cotton. 

41 Winks Face Mask, $15 (Shop Now)

5) Elyse Maguire

Elyse Maguire’s lifestyle brand is inspired by the salt, sand, and serenity of Cape Cod. Women’s and home accessories are the designer’s specialities, and now, so are reusable face masks. Each one is made with two layers and adjustable grosgrain ribbons. 

For every mask purchased, the brand will donate another mask to an essential worker on the front lines. Elyse Maguire is also working on a Hugs for Heroes campaign. You can nominate a hero to receive a cozy Marconi wrap that spells out “HUG” in a Morse Code and dot dash design. How sweet! 

Elyse Maguire Crinkle Cotton Face Mask, $20 (Shop Now)

6) Rendall Co.

LA-based workwear brand Rendall Co. was founded by Deirdra Jones in 2020. Quality and craftsmanship are the ethos of the brand, and it shows by the way each face mask is intricately made. In two designs, the Sentry (with a tie-back style) and the Ace (with elastic loops) and several colorways for each, the masks fit snugly and reduces eyewear fogging! 

For each mask purchased, they are donating one to essential workers and nonprofits working with the homeless.

Rendall Co. Face Mask, $19 (Shop Now)

7) Lele Sadoughi

If you love Lele Sadoughi’s signature headbands and accessories, you’ll love the designer’s collection of face masks. The hand-embellished designs include pearls, hearts, florals, stars, and stripes in a variety of colors. There are even kid sizes for the little ones in your life.

The brand is giving back by donating headbands with button hooks to help healthcare providers get comfy when wearing their medical masks.

Lele Sadoughi Face Masks, $40 for three (Shop Now)

Boy Meets Girl

Athleisure brand Boy Meets Girl has long been focused on philanthropy (since its start in 2001). When COVID-19 hit, founder Stacy Igel continued to do what she does best. She used her creativity to help make a change. She teamed up with Survivor Corps—the largest grassroots movement dedicated to ending the pandemic—to produce double-layer masks. A portion of proceeds for every mask sold goes to Survivor Corps and Glam4Good’s Critical Aid Fund. This helps fund PPE and personal care essentials to healthcare heroes, families in shelters, and children in need.

In her Instagram stories, the founder shared a little production mishap back in April. The factory sent all the mask orders to her house instead of the warehouse where they were supposed to be mailed to customers. Instead of shipping it back and causing a delay, she put on a mask and gloves and hand-packaged more than 200 orders herself, showing her dedication and passion for helping others.

Boy Meets Girl Face Mask, $20 (Shop Now)

Ashley Nell Tipton

Sometimes, it’s the little things that mean the most. Season 14 Project Runway winner Ashley Nell Tipton recently launched a mask line with cheerful designs. These can help you express yourself and maybe even strike up a conversation, too—as long as it’s from six feet away. The pieces in her collection all share the theme of positivity and inclusivity. Designs include Latina motifs, vibrant florals, denim, polka dots, and more.

When I received the mask in the mail, the first thing I noticed was its structure, which feels like a comfy shoulder pad for your face. Each mask (which is made from three pieces of fabric) comes with an ear stress reliever, which hooks to each side to prevent from slipping.

The designer made the collection locally in California and donated 5,000 face masks to those in need during the coronavirus. Also, check out the matching kid styles.

Ashley Nell Tipton Face Mask, $17 (Shop Now)

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