The Keen face masks are washable and reusable
Footwear brand Keen is using one of its factories to manufacture face masks during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Keen Together collection is going on sale this month at retailers including Cotswold.
The masks, made from Better Cotton Initiative-certified cotton canvas are designed to be washable and reusable.
UK governments are stipulating face coverings must be worn in an increasing number of situations to help stop the spread of Covid-19.
Keen initially started producing cloth masks, made from upcycled materials intended for its footwear, for factory workers and their families on a converted production line in its Thailand factory.
The company then donated 250,000 cloth masks to workers on the frontline such as supermarket workers, retail partner staff and Keen employees and their families around the globe. The demand for the non-medical, cloth masks continued to grow, so it decided to make them available for purchase, creating the Keen Together Mask line.
Keen has switched production of one of its factories to make the masks
Erik Burbank, Keen chief brand officer, said: “As a family owned business, we’ve always felt a responsibility to do the right thing. When the pandemic hit, we created the Together We Can Help initiative that empowered our community to donate 100,000 pairs of Keen shoes to people on the front lines of the crisis.
“As one of the few remaining global shoe manufacturers that owns its factories, we were able to quickly pivot production to start designing and producing non-medical, cloth masks to help keep our community safe.”
The Keen Together Mask is designed to be worn every day like clothing and the company said it is fully reusable and washable to reduce the impact on the environment. It has adjustable ear slides for long-term comfort, and initially comes in seven colours. Each colour is also designed to co-ordinate with select Keen shoes and sandals.
The mask comes in packets of two – allowing users to wear one and wash one in sequence – in a choice of seven colours including three tie-dye editions, in size XS/S (suitable for children aged three upwards) and M/L for adults. They retail at £10 for a pack of two.
The masks will also be available via the Keen website from August.
