Wearing any face mask other than a skincare mask seemed like a completely abstract idea to me until I was first exposed to it during my trip to Asia last September. In Singapore, both indoors and out on the streets, people young and old were wearing them. One day after I returned from that trip, I went to urgent care for what felt like a terrible cold. It was the flu. The joke’s on me! The doctor required me to wear a disposable medical grade mask, while she and her staff wore theirs too. That was the first time I ever wore one. Nine months later, here we are. I now own 8 masks.
Once the spread of COVID-19 started here in Florida in mid-March, I was working from home and didn’t really go out. By April, I got my first reusable mask. Up until now, it was the one and only mask I wore when I had to leave the house to run errands. I hand washed it and was as careful as possible, but eventually realized that this virus and the face mask safety that comes along with it isn’t going anywhere soon. Even when more places re-open and my social life and office work life returns, I will definitely need more – both wanting and being required to wear it. I also found myself in a panic a few times when I misplaced my mask and didn’t feel comfortable running an errand without it.
Eventually, I decided to do some research to find out what the options were: the materials, styles, comfort features, and price points. There’s an overwhelming variety to choose from! To narrow down my choices, I looked locally to the small businesses in Orlando that need our help now more than ever. I’ll share on Instagram @adventuresingourmet once I’ve decided which ones are my favorite!
- DePalma World – Mills 50 District – 619 Virginia Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
- Price Point: $10 solids & $12 prints
- Styles/Features: Solids and patterns, neoprene fabric, adjustable
- Current Hours: Thursday – Saturday from 12-6 p.m. & Sunday from 12-4 p.m.
- Contact: (786) 484-9388 & @depalmaworld
- Autumn & Ro – Mills 50 District – 807 Virginia Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
- Price Point: $18 each
- Styles/Features: Men’s & women’s, cotton & linen, adjustable, filter pocket
- *Bonus: For each mask sold, one is donated. Love that!
- Current Hours: Tuesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Contact: Phone Number & @autumnandro
- YAY! Tiny Shop – Ivanhoe Village – 211 N Orange Ave, Orlando, FL 32804
- Price Point: $10 each
- Styles: Selling masks with a built-in filter from local influencer, The Preppy Hostess
- Hours: Tuesday – Saturday from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Contact: (407) 868-9015 & @yaytinyshop
- Good Crowd – College Park – 2812 Edgewater Dr, Orlando, FL 32804
- Price Point: $14 each
- Styles: Variety of prints, cotton/linen, adjustable
- Hours: Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. & Saturday from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
- Contact: (407) 988-3630 & @goodcrowdshop
- The Lovely – Audubon Park – 2906 Corrine Dr, Orlando, FL 32803
- Price Point: TBD
- Styles: TBD
- Hours: Monday-Saturday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. & Sunday 12-4 p.m.
- Contact: (407) 270-7729 & @thelovelycollection
- Etoile Boutique – Milk District – 2424 E Robinson St, Orlando, FL 32803
- Price Point: $12 each
- Styles: Solids & prints, cotton/linen breathable fabric
- Hours: Thursday-Sunday from 12-7 p.m.
- Contact: (407) 895-6363 & @etoileboutique
- The Grove – Winter Park – 341 N Pennsylvania Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
- Price Point: $15 each
- Styles: Solids & prints, personalizations available include an initial, stars, flowers and more
- Hours: Tuesday-Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Contact: (407) 740-0022 & @thegrovewp
- Siegel’s – Winter Park – 330 S Park Ave, Winter Park, FL 32789
- Price Point: $10, $15, or $20 each
- Styles: Prints including college styles
- Hours: Monday-Saturday from 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m. & Sunday from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Contact: (408) 645-3100 & @seigelswinterpark
*The hours above are as of July 5, 2020 and are subject to change.
Local Orlando shops I reached out to that are not currently selling reusable face masks but are worth checking out include Charyli, Miscellaneous Market, Echoes of Retro, frank, and The Heavy. Retromended Vintage is currently making some with their seamstress. Orlando-based Rifle Paper Co. also has a limited-edition collection of masks on Hedley & Bennett supporting Baby2Baby’s COVID-19 relief efforts.
Do you know of any more I might be missing? I’m happy to add them to the list. Please share this so that no one has any excuses not to be wearing one, and so our favorite Orlando businesses can re-open!
