Steampunk Octopus Scuba Mask shirt

One element of the project Steampunk Octopus Scuba Mask shirt. James is keen to emphasize is that it’s simply logical. “I’m not actually very radical,” she adds. “I consider myself a pragmatic optimist. I’m not out here telling fashion retailers that they need to do this tomorrow—I’m saying there are three particular steps they can take.” Indeed, the proposition of 15% of Black-owned businesses sitting on the shelves of major retailers as a direct reflection of U.S. demographics is really, as James previously put it, the bare minimum.

Steampunk Octopus Scuba Mask shirt, hoodie, sweater, longsleeve and ladies t-shirt

(Guy Tee)

(Ladies Tee)

(Longsleeve Tee)

(Sweattshirt)

(Hoodie Tee)

Liana Satenstein: I like the idea of small labels and individuals but when masks are priced so high by a large clothing company? And who knows where they are made. Chioma Nnad Steampunk Octopus Scuba Mask shirt. Same, I’m glad that young designers got a head start on this. And I’m only buying from small, local mask makers. Emily Farra, senior fashion news writer: I think a lot of the hesitation definitely stems from the inconsistent narrative around masks. Less than two months ago, the CDC literally told us not to wear one at all—not because it wouldn’t help, but because they knew the hospitals were going to run out. And the fact that so many people don’t have access to masks at all makes me feel uneasy about “fashion masks.” Hospitals in NYC seem to be better equipped now, but other front line workers—at grocery stores, pharmacies, taxi drivers, etc—do not have access to masks. and i’ve heard there are major shortages at nursing homes. Steff Yotka, fashion news and emerging platforms editor: To go back to Sarah’s point about unease about fashion mask-making: I think it’s important to be able to make an aesthetic choice about what your mask looks like, especially now that it seems like we will be wearing them for a long time. But masks becoming a status symbol is tricky territory to me—we’re wearing them for our health. Not to flex.

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