Now, the masks which had been known to work in surgical, clinical and hospital settings, are seen all over shopping malls, public transport and other mass gatherings. The majority of Ugandans have adopted designs of the African print - Kitenge to make a fashion statement with the facemask.
Several Ugandans are taking advantage of the
increased demand for facemasks to produce maks in all kind of fabric. The demand went up soon after a declaration that all Ugandans should wear face masks while in public spaces, as one of the measures to control the spread of Coronavirus Disease
Now, the masks which had been known to work in surgical, clinical and hospital settings, are seen all over shopping malls, public transport and other mass gatherings. The majority of Ugandans have adopted designs of the African print - Kitenge to make a fashion statement with the facemask.
The scramble for masks hasn’t
left behind fashion designers, who are blending facemasks into the fashion world, using the moment to look trendy, even with a partially covered face.
Patrick Kirungi, a Fashion Designer with Rena Fashions
in Kampala says that some of their clients especially men order
for plain masks while others ask them to reserve pieces of fabric from
their clothes and make them matching masks.
//Cue in; “Mostly the men…
Cue out… can actually match.”//
Sarah Katongole, a fashion designer at Ara House
of Fashions, says several couples are ordering for masks produced from matching
fabric with a similar design for their family members.
//Cue in; “According to the …”
Cue out… make five masks.”//
Katongole however,
advised people with a dark skin complexion to use black or white colour
masks, saying they match with their skins. She cautions employees in the formal
sector to avoid using bright coloured masks in offices and reserve them for
parties and other casual events.
Aminah Nalule, a
fashion designer at Namik Fashion has designed masks, which are attached to
caps and more convenient for use under sunny weather. She sells each piece at Shillings
10,000 Uganda.
//Cue in; “The ones which…”
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To avoid colour crushing, Nalule, advises fashion-sensitive
people to use turquoise, pitch, maroon, black, white, and cream because they
easily blend with multiple colours.
Maya Ssenyonga, a manager at Terrace apartments says she has
made Kitengi fabric masks matching with her bags and shoes to flatter her
office looks. She made masks for her husband matching with his ties to
blend with fashion.
//Cue in; I made masks…
Cue out… to my husband.”//
Clare Mbabazi, a resident of Nabbingo says that she also made masks from Kitengi fabric for her
family, which they intend to wear on special occasions like parties, church
service and photoshoots when the lock-down is fully lifted.
Shamirah Matovu
Freelancer