Christian Siriano Is Making Face Masks Because He Is the Best

To say that the Trump administration has dropped the ball on coronavirus prep would be a massive understatement. They didn’t just drop the ball: they dug a hole in the ground, wiped their butts with the ball, and stabbed it with the last few remaining insulin lancets available. Thanks to their criminal negligence, the richest country in the world is now struggling with a shortage of face masks, virus tests, gloves, and everything else that is essential to have in a pandemic.

Enter Christian Siriano: the Project Runway winner turned A-list fashion designer has pivoted his company from making clothes to designing and manufacturing protective masks. Siriano reached out to New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo via Twitter, and Cuomo responded enthusiastically.

Siriano said of the pledge, “I am just in a unique scenario where I manufacture everything in New York already, I have a working atelier and everyone’s working from home, and my office is a townhouse, … We’re just able to make them.” Siriano plans to make masks for those on the frontlines: doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who are braving exposure to the virus on a daily basis.

Siriano continued, “We’re just working on logistics now; who will get them first, how many we can physically make … Hopefully, we can make a thousand in a few days. That’s the goal.” The designer shared some prototypes online, but said he was awaiting approval from the FDA before he begins mass production.

According to ABC News, the U.S. currently has a stockpile of 13 million N95 respirator masks. But experts estimate that the country will need up to a billion masks over the next six months.

Those skilled in the fabric arts have also been chipping in by sharing patterns and instructions for crafting your own mask. While a fabric mask may not filter out particles as well as n95s, they are better than nothing.

Medical professionals are also wearing these fabric masks over their remaining n95s to help them last longer. Either way, if you’re the crafty type, it’s a great way to channel your anxiety and do something positive with your free time.

(via Bazaar, image: (Andrew Toth/Getty Images for YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund)

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Chelsea Steiner

Chelsea was born and raised in New Orleans, which explains her affinity for cheesy grits and Britney Spears. An pop culture journalist since 2012, her work has appeared on Autostraddle, AfterEllen, and more. Her beats include queer popular culture, film, television, republican clownery, and the unwavering belief that 'The Long Kiss Goodnight' is the greatest movie ever made. She currently resides in sunny Los Angeles, with her husband, 2 sons, and one poorly behaved rescue dog. She is a former roller derby girl and a black belt in Judo, so she is not to be trifled with. She loves the word “Jewess” and wishes more people used it to describe her.

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