Goa: Youngsters jazz up masks with trendy prints, crochet

Panaji: Panaji-based artist Alexandra Faye was used to getting requests to paint her friends’ shirts and jackets to add a splash of colour to an otherwise plain piece of clothing. During the lockdown however, she has been flooded with requests to jazz up their face masks.

“From musical instruments to sports motifs, superhero characters to personalised themes, there are increasing requests for hand-painted, customised masks,” she said.

Faye is now busy designing a mask using the photography theme for a friend while another has asked her to design something that “reflects Sparta”.

Wearing of a face masks has become mandatory during the coronavirus pandemic and with this trend likely to continue in the foreseeable future, people are finding ways to incorporate them into their outfits.

Margao-based Nivedita Walke, who is known for her crochet skills, has been decorating masks with the thread art.

“I received positive response on social media when I put up a picture of a mask with a crochet design. I then came up with the idea of a crochet brooch pin, so users can take the decorative piece off the mask before washing and even use it on other masks ,” she said.

While adults understand the importance of wearing the mask irrespective of its appearance, getting little ones to follow the norm strictly has been a Herculean task for some parents. Saligao-based Ninoshka Alvares Delaney says that she has been receiving requests from such parents to supply them with colourful customised masks.

“There was one mother who asked for a mask with stars to encourage her child to wear it. Another requested a matching headband for her daughter. In another case, a mother-daughter duo requested for matching masks,” she said.

Calangute-based Katya Coelho would initially make masks with leftover fabric at home but when people started requesting for more, she started playing with prints and started changing the borders to bright colours. Floral and ethnic design requests come from women, while men prefer chequered prints.

Masks with lace, stripes and fruit prints are popular among children, she said.