Berlin – 2020 has gotten off to almost an apocalyptic start. First, the
Australian bushfires have drastically lowered air quality in the country
resulting in a demand for anti-pollution masks. This week the Wuhan
coronavirus has caused a surge in searches for medical masks on Google and
several Vancouver pharmacies are selling out of masks as reported by
Canadian Global News. In the 2019 “State of the Air” analysis published by
The American Lung Association, it’s estimated that 133.9 million people in
the United States are exposed to unhealthy air. With the unfortunate
consequences of climate change and global health epidemics that’s become a
stark reality, one medical supply company has teamed up with a Berlin
fashion label to reinterpret surgical masks as the next streetwear
trend.
#Damur x CSD
#Damur, a Berlin-based high-end streetwear label showed their AW20/21
collection at Berlin Fashion Week on January 16 at the soon to close club,
Griessmuehle. For the runway show, the designer collaborated with CSD, a 73
years old medical supply company from Taiwan on a global mission to
reinterpret the surgical mask in to a fashion accessory. Two special masks
were used as VIP tickets and worn by models on the runway. The medical
masks were adorned with renditions of the Brother’s Kiss and
graffiti culture that Berlin is known for.
Shih-Shun Huang, #Damur’s founder and designer, told FashionUnited in an
email, “We want to be the first fashion show in the world to put (medical)
masks on the runway, and to use them in art installations and graffiti.
CSD’s method of breaking the original label of the surgical mask is very
similar to that of #Damur. Many of our designs are not only fashion
creations, but also hope to present a dialogue with social labels,
encouraging people to think and breakthrough existing frameworks.” Damur is
currently a member of Fashion Council Germany and the McKinsey experience
studio so it’s no surprise that the District Mayor of Neukölln, Martin
Hikel, was also seen attending the fashion show.
CSD’s COO, Jonathan Chang added, “#Damur is not only a clothing brand,
but more importantly, every design tries to break stereotypes in society
and even attempts to redefine these labels. This is a value that CSD
admires and can benefit from. In the future, I hope to collaborate with
Damur at other international fashion weeks, such as New York and London.
Fashion week is an optimal time to showcase our products and Berlin as a
diverse international hub can be a good entry point into the European
market.”
Medical masks in Western subculture and streetwear
Already part of everyday wear in Asia and even becoming a fashion
statement, surgical masks are still viewed as a novelty in the West;
however, they have been making an appearance in Western subculture and
streetwear. American rappers such as Ayo and Teo, 2 Chainz and Travis Scott
have long incorporated masks to perform onstage while Virgil Abloh’s
Off-White Diagonal Camouflage Mask retails for 68 US dollars. Atlanta-based
stylist, Zoe Dupree was quoted in Billboard Magazine, “This is a new part
of costuming, and you’ll see people doing new things with it. This is a
trend that’s going to stay.”
Most recently as K-pop cross overed into the mainstream worldwide,
the record-breaking boy band, BTS, often don facemasks as part of their
off-duty attire; streetwear-inspired medical masks are even beginning to
grace Amsterdam’s notable concert venues such as Melkweg during K-pop
parties.
Photos: courtesy of CSD and Damur, credited to Filip Kacalski, Silver
Nebula and Martin von den Driesch
