Earlier this year, as the coronavirus began to spread around the world, officials recommended people wear face masks in public. Leigh Radziwon and Kim Murray, the owners of Halloween mask company StickFX, jumped in to help! They designed protective masks with replaceable filters.
Parts of the masks are made from silicone. This material sticks to skin, creating a tight seal around the nose and mouth. The first prototype, or testable model, had straps that looped behind the ears. Later models included adjustable straps or no straps at all!
Connecticut-based StickFX has sold more than 8,000 masks since May. The company has also donated masks to essential workers. “We all have a duty to help during times of crisis,” says Radziwon.