With covering up faces becoming the new normal, apparel units in Gurgaon are now collaborating with the fashion world to meet domestic and also capitalise on the global demand for designer masks.
The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has recently tied up with the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT) to ensure the masks produced by export units in Gurgaon become trendy — the designers are working on cotton-based washable single and double layer masks of varied colours and types.
According to AEPC chairman A Sakthivel, around 500-600 apparel houses are currently manufacturing masks “and many more are likely to start production soon”. “Eventually, the designer masks will replace the regular ones, particularly in the western countries. We are collaborating with NIFT on designer masks. Once the restriction on export of masks is lifted, we expect huge orders from international markets,” he said.
Apparel houses say the designer masks will be produced following scientific norms. “We will incorporate the technology of N-95 masks while producing the designer masks. The designs will be different for men and women — striped and camouflage masks for males, and decorative for the ladies,” said Arunav Gagoi, the chief designer of Modelama Export.
For more health conscious people, there will be masks with replaceable filter, which can be placed in between two layers of cloths. After every use, the filter can be replaced, he said.
Arvind Rai, the company’s director, said they have already started getting orders from corporate houses and event management companies. “These companies want masks with their logos on them. And soon, these masks will be in high demand in both domestic and international markets as they are gradually becoming a part of people’s attire,” he said.
