One of the biggest changes to the fashion world as a result of the global pandemic is the rise of face masks. While initially a necessity to help keep us safe, masks eventually evolved into a fashion statement piece. But this isn’t exactly strange or weird, especially if you’ve ever looked at the Japanese fashion scene. Over there, face masks were already being worn. People wear them on public transport or during outings when they have a cold, but they evolved and people started wearing them as a fashion statement or even just to cover their face.
Nowadays, you can buy face masks with lots of unique patterns and designs, and people have started to create their own masks to be more expressive with their sense of fashion. But this begs the question; will face masks ever be a long-term fashionable item, or will they always remain a niche that exists only during a pandemic?
According to some sources, face masks are already here to stay.
Companies are already coming out with unique mask designs
Many fashion brands that were inspired by Japanese streetwear and designs were likely already producing masks with unique designs on them. However, more and more companies such as choob.com.au are starting to create face masks that are targeted at different audiences. We’re even starting to see well-known brands release face masks of their own designs. Some of these come at ludicrous price tags (especially if you look at some of the high-end brands) but people are buying these up and wearing them like any other fashion accessory.
It shows us that people are willing to adapt to the use of face masks to help keep us safe, but they don’t mind paying extra to make it fashionable and interesting.
Face masks as a fashion accessory
Face masks have always existed as a fashion accessory in some parts of the world. For example, many people tend to associate cyberpunk themes with Japanese tech culture. The genre is heavily inspired by Asian culture and you’ll often see futuristic high-tech ninja-inspired designs in popular culture. Many of these designs are then translated into the real world by mixing eccentric tech wear with fashionable high-tech gadgets and accessories.
Face masks are an important component of this style of fashion in Japan and their influence has slowly started to affect Western fashion choices. More people are starting to wear masks with simple yet clean designs, and they’re starting to build entire outfits around them. The cyberpunk genre has definitely started to pick up steam over the past year or so, especially considering how dystopian some cities have felt as a result of lockdowns.
So in short; face masks are already very fashionable and things will continue to remain that way for the foreseeable future. While many have stopped wearing them already, others wear them to feel more comfortable with their outfits. At the end of the day, isn’t that what fashion is really about?