Unmasking the diva

Shivani Bhakoo

Guidelines are issued for people to wear masks till the threat of COVID-19 looms large all over the world. It may become difficult for the masses to adopt this kind of a lifestyle but as far as the fashion-conscious women in Ludhiana are concerned, for them it is going to become latest fad once lockdown is over!

Designer masks — yes, you heard it right. These are going to be in once the life starts coming on tracks after the lockdown period. The boutiques here are busy with the production of the designer masks, which look attractive and stylish. Niman Dhawan from Studio N shares, “We are producing two types of masks – medically proven and fashionable/designer product. We are outsourcing the medically advised masks while the production of designer masks is taking place in-house. Presently we are making masks matching with the outfits but these can be customised too as per the taste of the client”.

The designer masks are made with fabrics like georgette, crepes, cotton, silk etc. These are printed, embroidered, painted etc, which look very attractive and colourful but these are certainly not medically approved.

In case customers need medically approved ones, the designers put the designer layer on the top and other layers inside, which are medically recommended. The masks range anywhere from Rs 290 to Rs 500 depending on the work, material and design.

Namita, a homemaker, said everytime she goes near her dressing table, the first thing she picks up is the lip-colour. “But we need to take care of ourselves. The money which was earlier spent on lip-colours will now be spent on beautiful masks. And like in many Gulf countries, eye-make up would be enhanced to match with designer masks,” she said.

Not just the leading boutiques but even the shopkeepers here have started sending messages on social media about the variety of masks available in different colours. The girls also feel that if this lifestyle has to be adopted for the coming months then it should be colourful. Gulh Malhotra, a student studying in Delhi (from Ludhiana), said that she has already ordered for half-a-dozen masks, once the college in Delhi opens, she would take them along.