FTA x CSB-SD -Multi-Colored Two-Tiered Cowboy Mask by Suzie Abou Khzam

One must as surely wear a face-mask these days, as they would wear clothes. With the inevitability of a shoe, and the washing cycle of a pair of underwear- this newly essential accessory has shifted from a surgical precaution to an intimate, daily prosthetic. How does one address this facade, which has virtually replaced the lower half of the human face in public settings? How does one turn this filter into a crown?

Fashion Trust Arabia and Creative Space Beirut School of Design came together to address this question. They devised a competition for CSB students to be critical and imaginative about face-mask design, while maintaining extreme reverence to clinical precautions. This yielded a driven collective study on functional aesthetics. 

Here, for your protection and enjoyment, is a highlight from our process:

Tier 1: Full-out face mask protection with chiffon/silk or cotton jersey, and sturdy, elastic bands. Tier 2: A bandana extending from below the face-mask to twist and wrap around the neck for warmth, concealment, chic-ness, general bad-assery, and also to keep the mask on the body when off the face.

• Exterior:  Multi-Colored Polyester Print
• Interior: Single Layer Silk
• Components: Interfacing and Elastane