May 17, 2020
Bhubaneswar: At a time when face masks have become a necessary part of daily use, Akanksha Sarkar and Binoy Munda, the alumni of NIFT Bhubaneswar, have made those designer pieces for dressing up.
As a substitute to dull and almost suffocating surgical or N95 masks, these not only look colourful and attractive but also meet the clinical needs of corona masks. Each mask has a thin internal layer of breathable and porous fabric acting as the filter, while double outer layers of the Odisha handloom fabrics act as a shield.
Designers Akanksha and Binoy have been producing 500 masks in their respective units and are supplying to Boyanika. While a regular N95 mask costs Rs 300-500, these designer masks come for Rs 150 per piece.
“We have also provided 4,000 masks to a government body. Similar masks and surgical caps were stitched for doctors at KIIMS hospital,” said Akanksha.
The designer duo also sells the masks that are stitched by homemakers or tailors at a cheaper rate of Rs 50 each. These are available on different themes like cartoon characters, fruits and animals.
Production time of these masks is also not very long. “It doesn’t take more than two minutes to stitch a mask,” said Akanksha.
Terming their products as cultural masks, the designers said, “The designs are based on contemporary narratives and bear a message for society.”
The masks are stitched with indigenous fabrics like Ikat, Sambalpuri, Passapalli and Khurda Gamucha promoting the handloom culture of Odisha.
