New times, new use
My mom (Noy Yuan) is one of the most creative souls I have encountered. She is full of ideas. Currently, she is sewing masks out of ancient, but unused fabric. She tells me how it came about:
«During the confinement phase of this pandemic my mind wandered while the fabric pieces kept "looking at me," a courtship began. I had images and ideas, I tried to bring them to reality... and then the sewing machine broke down. Everything closed down, so I was forced to bring my ideas to life without the machine. The end result of crafting a whole piece by hand was an enjoyable occupation and masks, different from the ones that circulated around, became concrete.
Orders began popping up after my daughter shared a picture on Instagram and I decided to keep full handcrafting. Today, I can say, it is with joy that I am adjusting my grandfather's forgotten silks (never used but crafted in other items) to a new shape and purpose. As masks help us to protect ourselves and others, they satisfy that minimum feeling of vanity that gives color to our daily lives which are currently heavily contained by necessity. Each mask is unique, exactly like each one of us.»
Each mask is unique, just like all of us.
My great-grandfather (on the right) was one of the first Chinese in Portugal and produced and sold silk ties.
How to wash:
Do not put in the washing machine. Handwash only.
Put it in a bowl with some soap, pour hot water (60°, starting to boil), steer and let it soak for 15 min, rinse, take excess water, hang after repositioning the mask folds, so that the shape is kept.
Ironing:
Use only silk mode. After ironing, it regains its natural shine.
Duration:
You can wash your mask up to 50x but you can use longer depending how you handle it. If the textile is in good shape, it is safe to use it. Adding an inside textile or substituting the inner fabric can recover the protection. I offer a replacement service of the inner material in exchange of a small fee + porto. So you can enjoy it much longer!
Get in touch:
For questions, feedback, or for repair of the mask: noyyuan@gmail.com or contact me.
Instagram: @ideiaspreciosas
now available at the beauty kollective & buy food with plastic
My friend and make-up artist Sophia Singh has now decided to sell some of my mom’s mask via her online shop «The Beauty Kollective». You can purchase yours from there or some masks can also be purchased at the charity shop Buy Food with Plastic at Feldstrasse 42 in Zurich.
