​I wear a mask because it is mandated (in this case in public transport), but not because I am convinced it is necessary. I wear it because I don't feel like arguing with law enforcement or self-appointed blockwarts about it. Why do I think it is not necessary? Lets see: this mask does not protect me from infection, and I hope everyone knows this. It is supposed to protect others from catching the virus from me. In my case, illogical: I am by age and precondition in the high risk group. Should I be infected (i.e. contagious to others) I would not be here, sitting in the S-Bahn, apparently healthy, but I would most likely be lying in a hospital bed or maybe even in the ICU. 

Now the Austrian Government and their esteemed scientific advisers in their deep and unassailable wisdom had declared that face shields do not qualify as MNS (mouth-nose protection) because there are gaps, and that said MNS have to be reasonably tight fitting. But as I said above, they do nothing to protect me. What would protect me would be the equivalent of a N95 mask (or better, see link below), and because of my breathing problems due to my precondition, I need one with an exhale valve. I am thinking of getting one. The "regulations" did not even mention those, just face shields. And I see more of them now also on public transport, supermarkets and wherever masks are legally required.

Now understand this - the regulations talk about masks, but there is a difference between a mask and a respirator. Perhaps the Government, and its Experts (using the term rather loosely), would need a refresher course. 

Furthermore, most workplace health and safety regulations require that masks should not be worn for more than 2 hours straight. A free breathing pause should be made for ideally half hour. So what about a train ride from Vienna to Bregenz, for example, that takes 9 hours, or a flight between Vienna and Calgary that takes 12 hours? You must wear a mask for the entire time! 
Before anyone interjects with "what about operating room personnel that operate for hours on end" there is an answer also: they wear surgical masks that are not tight fitting, and the operating room has enhanced air circulation with oxygen enrichment. 

But let us assume you are symptomatic: The normal way of getting rid of intruders from your airways is through sneezing and coughing. In this case, a virus load. You also expel viruses by simply breathing out (hence the mask requirement). But instead of getting rid of them, they hang in the mask and you then breathe them back in. So you are sort of re-infecting yourself, increasing your virus load more. This could be a problem for people who are already infected, making the infection worse. Now think about old people in nursing homes who are made to wear mask.

I used to teach respirator protocol and safety - this here is a good guide:

N95 vs FFP3 & FFP2 masks – what’s the difference?

​Masks vs Respirators
Before we go any further, let’s just clarify on a technical difference between a “mask” and a “respirator”. In day to day language we often say mask, when referring to what are technically called respirators.

In my estimation, the best resource about the subject, there is a lot of very good information and relevant links on that site, so click here or else the image above to read more. 

CORONA VIRUS ALERT:
if you need to wear a mask, it might as well be stylish - at my AOW shop
​you find many models in my facemask collection. Scroll down for examples, description and sizing.

A few examples of my masks are shown here, but there are many more designs found on my
AOW Mask Collection Page

​Keep up with our changing world with 100% cotton custom printed face coverings! Complete with a stainless steel nose piece, filter pocket and soft fabric elastics, these 200 thread count cotton sateen face coverings are here to give you a little more peace of mind. Printed with permanent reactive inks, you can feel confident washing them over and over without fear of fading. Stay safe and stylish with custom printed cut and sew face coverings.
Superior quality, competitively priced at US$ 16.- Filter inserts available at US$ 2.- for a pack of two. 

​​It’s important that your face covering fits as snug as possible to your face. Take some time to do the following measurements before you order. Don’t assume that your face size is similar to your clothing size! Face shapes can vary significantly from person to person.
• Measure from the beginning of one ear, over the tip of your nose, to the start of your other ear.

Sizes for Cotton Sateen Face Coverings

​Add some flair to our new normal with custom printed double knit face coverings! These super vibrant face coverings are made of a light weight, double knit polyester, making them easy to breathe, move, and even exercise in. Precision cut edges and plenty of stretch provide comfort for all day use. Whether you’re going to the grocery store, the gym, the office, or wherever else you choose to social distance, these double knit face coverings will keep you safe, comfortable and stylish.
For the very reasonable price of US$ 8.50 maybe get several - perhaps find matching apparel as well?

double knit face coverings modelled by my artist friend Liba WS  

​​It’s important that your face covering fits as snug as possible to your face. Take some time to do the following measurements before you order. Don’t assume that your face size is similar to your clothing size! Face shapes can vary significantly from person to person.
• Measure from the beginning of one ear, over the tip of your nose, to the start of your other ear.

Sizes for Double Knit Face Coverings

On the right sidebar you may see similar merchandise advertised that I have in my Zazzle Stores,
​and also in my RageOn Store where masks are available.  Both of these Stores are US based. 

​

Some time ago I joined a new Print-On-Demand platform, headquartered in Montreal, Canada. There are a multitude of items I can put my designs on, and to see an overview of it, just check my AOW STORE. But in this blog, I like to highlight my collection of ​ Facemask that have become mandatory in many places around the globe. So why not make it a fashion accessory that is unique and not mass-produced!​

​There are basically two types of masks, which I want to introduce to you:

a very affordable yet elegant style - select from the images below (opens in new tab) or click the title above to take you the store category if you wish to make multiple purchases. 
Note: there are additional designs also available - more may be added

​Add some flair to our new normal with custom printed double knit face coverings! These super vibrant face coverings are made of a light weight, double knit polyester, making them easy to breathe, move, and even exercise in. Precision cut edges and plenty of stretch provide comfort for all day use. Whether you’re going to the grocery store, the gym, the office, or wherever else you choose to social distance, these double knit face coverings will keep you safe, comfortable and stylish.

How to measure:
Measure from the beginning of one ear, over the tip of your nose, to the start of your other ear.
Adult Large        29-30cm
Adult Medium    27-28cm
Adult Small        26-27cm
Youth Large       24-25cm
Youth Small       22-23cm

​With the world changing all around us, we’ve all had to come to terms with our “new normal”. Wearing a mask all day can be pretty uncomfortable and can inhibit some of our daily routines. I get that, which is why my double knit face coverings are designed with functionality in mind. Say goodbye to heavy breathing, face sweats and mask induced pimples! These lightweight, breathable face coverings are made of a super stretchy, double knit poly, and finished with precision cut edges, so they’re comfortable enough to wear all day. Their gorgeously vibrant prints will never fade, so you can wash them everyday without worry. Not only are they comfortable and easy to wear, they’ll also do what all good face coverings should do, which is keep you safe during these unknown times. Add some flair to your new normal with these double knit face coverings!

the deluxe premium you can take to the opera - select from the images below (opens in new tab) or click the title above to take you the store category if you wish to make multiple purchases. 
Note: there are additional designs also available - more may be added

​Keep up with our changing world with 100% cotton custom printed face coverings! Complete with a stainless steel nose piece, filter pocket and soft fabric elastics, these 200 thread count cotton sateen face coverings are here to give you a little more peace of mind. Printed with permanent reactive inks, you can feel confident washing them over and over without fear of fading. Stay safe and stylish with custom printed cut and sew face coverings. 

How to measure:
Measure from the beginning of one ear, over the tip of your nose, to the start of your other ear.
Adult X-Large         30.5 cm
Adult Large             29 cm
Adult Medium         27.5 cm
Adult Small             26 cm
Youth Large            25 cm
Youth Medium        23.5 cm
Youth Small            22 cm

We’re all trying to go the extra mile right now to stay safe and sanitary in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Part of that is covering our faces in public. My 200 thread count cotton sateen face coverings are silky soft against your skin and printed with permanent reactive inks so they won’t fade even after endless washes. They feature a stainless steel nose piece to ensure a tight fit, and soft fabric elastic that can be adjusted to fit your head shape. They have an internal filter pocket which acts as the double layer of fabric while also allowing you to insert an additional filter suited to your needs. While we don’t have a choice to change our lifestyles to suit the world, we do get to choose the artwork that we wear! Cover up with custom printed face coverings and stay safe and stylish!