5 Reasons to Wear a Silk Scarf as Your Face Mask
The CDC is urging the general population to wear masks made of breathable fabric close to the face whenever in public. As such, masks have transformed from unheard of to ubiquitous overnight. But, as worldwide shortages of medical masks have put pressures on global supply chains, people are turning to homemade alternatives to fill the void. Here are 5 reasons you should consider wearing silk scarves during this pandemic:
1. They are cheaper
A 5 packs of disposable masks that you could find on Amazon, would result in less than a year of masks, assuming you use just one everyday. Often, being disposable, we tend to use up to two masks per day. 1 Stavros silk scarf is equivalent to 4.5 boxes of disposable masks, lasting you a lifetime, and multiple uses post pandemic.
2. They offer similar safety + efficacy
Silk scarves have been found to be nearly equivalent to the highly effective N95 masks. A recent study, by researchers at the University of Chicago found: “One layer of a tightly woven cotton sheet combined with two layers of polyester-spandex chiffon, filtered out the most aerosol particles (80–99%, depending on particle size), with performance close to that of an N95 mask material. Substituting the chiffon with natural silk, produced similar results.” Care must be taken to double-fold the scarf and make sure that they are tight around the nose and mouth for maximal efficiency.
Olivia Palermo in a Silk Scarf Mask @OliviaPalermo
3. They are more fashionable
Masks conceal us, removing an element of our fashion and individuality. But what if we could wear a mask that not only protected us but also heightened our sense of style and self-expression? Enter the silk scarf. Politicians such as Nancy Pelosi and TV personalities such as Doctor Deborah Birx have kickstarted this trend, and many others are just beginning to follow [See Olivia Palermo just this past weekend!]. Now, some of the world’s greatest fashion houses are also jumping on the bandwagon (read: “In the Fight Against Coronavirus, the Hermès Scarf Becomes an Unlikely Weapon”).
Masks are polluting our environment / Image: Reuters
4. They are more sustainable
Tens of millions of single-use masks are being disposed of everyday, raising alarm bells for global marine ecosystems. Many medical-grade masks contain materials that are not recyclable. These masks are made using non-woven fabrics including plastics, which wreak havoc on marine ecosystems. According to NOAA, as plastic swirls around in the water, much of it breaks down to tiny pieces, called micro-plastics. Then, many fish species consume plastics debris, confusing it for real food and at least 600 different wildlife species are threatened by the pollution. High quality silk scarves, which can last a lifetime, can help keep our oceans clean and our animals healthy.
5. They help alleviate the global mask shortage
As most of the global mask supply comes from China (currently, China produces 200 million masks per day), the global mask supply chain is being spread increasingly thin. Severe mask shortages have resulted in hospitals throughout the US and the world, putting tens of thousands of healthcare workers’ lives at risk. It is thus our duty, and our prerogative to help our frontline healthcare workers have access to these masks when they need them.
Stavros, a local fashion and lifestyle brand, has just launched a line of silk scarves that can be worn as face masks. And they are donating 100% of sales of their “Apart but Together” scarf to coronavirus relief efforts. Help them reach their goal of raising $7000 (25 000 DHS). So, on your next grocery run, consider ditching your face mask for a silk scarf, and look good while doing good for the world. Shop now!
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PS: Kindly be advised that Silk Scarves as Masks do not replace medical grade masks and do not guarantee prevention from Covid-19. Silk is very breathable, therefore comfortable and soft on the skin, but does let slightly more air in compared to a tight knit jersey or cotton. However, the Stravos Silks are high quality and tightly woven materials, and any silk scarf as mask is a double layered be default in its shape [folded in half], therefore is a great alternative to traditional masks in addition to all the reasons shared in this article, and more.
Cover Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels
