Doing its part to help protect those in need from the community spread of COVID-19, athleisure wear brand STRUT THIS is rapidly producing and donating thousands of non-medical reusable face masks to organizations across the country, while encouraging individuals to “pay it forward” with its Buy One, Donate One program.
Using washable, double-lined fabrics recycled from its “on trend” designs, STRUT THIS is working to produce and distribute masks as quickly as possible to meet surging demand. STRUT THIS is creating non-medical, reusable poly-spandex face masks which include a slit in the center to insert a filter of the purchaser’s choosing (filter not included), providing additional protection.
In the first week since its initial social media announcement, the female-founded, family-owned company has seen orders multiply from 2,000 to 10,000. A majority of the masks have been distributed to organization including UCLA Medical Health of Santa Monica, The Midnight Mission (Downtown LA), Chrysalis, New York Presbyterian hospital, and Upward Bound House in Santa Monica. The rest are being sold at cost to patrons of the Buy One, Donate One program, in which STRUT THIS donates one mask to a community in need with every mask purchased online.
STRUT THIS intends to maintain supply with demand “for as long as we can,” says co-owner Cynthia Sieder, and is working with local factories in the Los Angeles arts district to boost production.
“We’re prepared to meet the demands,” says Sieder. “There are a lot of people out there making masks right now, and we’re finding that things like elastic and linings are getting harder to come by. But we’re doing the best we can and doing whatever we have to do. We started this business by hustling, so we’ll hustle. This is not about making money. It’s about playing our part in the community.”
Sieder’s youngest daughter is on the front lines of the pandemic as a pediatric oncology nurse at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica. Her insight into the supply and demand issues for masks helped her mother and the other STRUT THIS partners – Raquel Lessner, Aubrey Sieder and Barbara Lessner – decide to start the mask initiative. The Buy One, Donate One program extends beyond the company’s commitment beyond charitable organizations to help friends and families in needs as well.
Please Note: This mask is not a replacement for medical-grade Personal Protective Equipment, and is not intended to replace other recommended measures to stop the community spread of COVID-19. It is recommended to wash your mask before wear.
