Where to get a locally made mask in Halifax

Are you ready? Tomorrow, July 31, is the day that masks become mandatory in indoor public spaces. What qualifies as an indoor public place? Stores, malls, places of worship or entertainment, transit terminals and bus shelters, service businesses (think nail salons or barber shops), common areas in office buildings and universities and, of course, restaurants and bars. (Yes, you can take your mask off to eat or drink—but try to put it on when your server approaches the table and definitely put it on to go to the washroom while dining out.) A complete list of what qualifies as an indoor public space can be found on the Nova Scotia website, but a good rule of thumb is to just assume that if you’re going out and about, you should be masked up.

So now, the question that’s on all our minds: Where can I get a mask?

Here, we deliver your best bets for a locally sourced face covering. It’s a living list that’ll be updated as more local suppliers become known, so if we’ve missed something please email us (arts@thecoast.ca) or drop a comment below. (Also, remember that wearing a mask doesn’t mean you can skip washing your hands or following social-distancing rules, and that medical-grade masks need to be left for front-line healthcare workers.)

• Vic Master Tailor (6092 Cunard Street) is making masks for $8 each or two for $15. You can order by email (info@vicmastertailor.com) or phone (902-424-8638).

•Truro’s Bambee Apparel is offering free North American shipping on its masks, which come in two styles and tons of prints (including tie-dye). Shop ’em here.

• Lisa Drader-Murphy is selling masks made of water-repellent neoprene with reusable cotton liners, at $20 each. Buy them through the fashion label’s website.

• Masks are now available from local streetwear line tREv, which, according to the brand’s website, will run you $30. Order yours here.

•Cover Me Halifax is a good bet for those who want to treat a mask as an extra style statement, with printed numbers featuring everything from coffee cups to Pokemon to rainbow stripes. With three sizes available and prices ranging from $12-$30, you can get to browsing on its Facebook page. 

•Microfibre masks and filters are available for order from Pixels and Pieces‘ online shop. Prices range from $9.99 to $11.99 and you can peep ’em here.

•Daniels Tailors (located on level three of Park Lane Mall) is designing custom-made masks starting at $25 a pop, as well as non-medical face shields, one size fits all, for 15$. Order by email (danielstailors@eastlink.ca) or call 902-877-9334.

• Vogue Men’s Wear and Tailoring (2097 Gottingen Street) is making masks for pick-up, selling them at cost for $5 each. The store stresses you need to call ahead to arrange pick-up and availability: phone 902-423-6504.

• Sherzad’s Tailoring Shop has two locations—1496 Lower Water Street and 12 Esquire Lane, Bedford—that are selling masks as of April 17. They’ll be $15 each or two for $25. Pickup is available anytime during business hours and you can call (902) 999-2436 for more info.

• Clothing line Money Penny Designs is expanding its twee, mom-and-me focus to include woven cotton masks as of April 9. Adult and child sizes will be available and shipping is free. Follow along on Instagram for updates (including mask costs) from the brand.

• Online fashion house Olive Rose Studio is giving away free cotton masks that an be shipped anywhere in Canada (you will have to foot the shipping fee, which ranges from $5 to $7). The site also links to two patterns if you’re feeling inclined to DIY.

• You can also make your own mask, which isn’t as hard as it sounds. A local Facebook page, MASK Halifax, has started sharing tips, tricks and patterns on how to sew your own mask. Group creator Carmen Lee tells The Coast that making the online space was important to her so that community members could ask and answer each other’s questions and share reliable info all in one place. Lee’s also spending her days creating free masks for others, and is encouraging anybody else who can to do the same. Send the page a private message to ask Lee for a mask, or better yet: Make some for yourself and your friends. (Here’s a great sewing tutorial and no-sew option to get you started.)

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This article appears in Jul 1-31, 2020.