Reusable fabric masks have become a staple of our leaving-the-house wardrobe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends them to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, particularly in situations where it’s hard to practice social distancing — and now they’re a requirement, thanks to Governor Walz’s Executive Order 20-81. The mandate, which goes into effect on July 25, requires people in Minnesota to wear a face covering in all indoor businesses and public indoor spaces, unless alone. Face coverings are also required in outdoor situations where social distancing cannot be maintained.
What follows is a roundup of our favorite Minnesota-made and -designed masks. Many are sewn in limited quantities — and sometimes by teams of one — so stock is always fluctuating. If the mask you want is sold out, poke around the vendor’s site to see if another face covering calls your name. Happy browsing and we look forward to seeing your masked mug around town.
1. The charming floral fabric used in this Rifle Paper Co. face mask ($13) from Mini Minua by Miah Gabrielle will be familiar to any fans of Rifle’s stationery brand. For free shipping, enter the code MINIMASK2020 during checkout.
2. This cute animal print kid’s mask ($10) from Oh Baby! is also available in ballerina, butterfly, baseball, birdie, and garden prints.
3. We love the colorful cording on these PSbagworks cotton face masks, sold $29 for two on Etsy. Feel-good bonus: Designer Sonia Rani of Minneapolis is donating one mask for every mask sold.
4. Gilded Roots African print masks ($18) are made from imported wax prints and double layered with a filter pocket for extra protection.
5. These Wendy Richardson masks ($24) from Minneapolis’ Textile Center have an over-dyed cotton front, cotton batik back, filter pocket, and nose wire. They’re artisan-made, so no two masks are ever the same.
6. MILLE is selling four-packs of masks for $25. They’re made in India using fabric scraps leftover from the shop’s clothing line. Designs are all mixed up and a portion of the proceeds goes to The Loveland Foundation, which provides therapy for Black women and girls.
7. Up, up, and away! Get your littlest astronomer a NASA-themed kids mask ($20) from Bumblelou. The double-layer mask is made in Mankato. Other fabric styles feature flowers, butterflies, baseballs, video games, construction equipment, castles, cats, unicorns, mermaids, stars, sprinkles, and rainbow stripes.
8. Lowertown-based mask designer Kirk Sklar of Ikervolk has dozens of wild prints available on his website, including this electric-pink floral vines number ($16). Other designs run the gamut of interests: French passport stamps, feathers, aliens, superheroes, sunflowers, pandas, local sports teams, tractors, The Who. Sklar’s cloth masks are made with two layers of cotton; filter masks have a filter sewn in between the cotton layers. Many of his masks are available in adult and kid sizes, and all are washable.
9. This matchy-matchy mask and scrunchie set ($35) from milliner Celina Kane is made with a sweet vintage hat print. The mask has a cotton lining and a filter pocket.
10. The filter-free pleated masks ($12-$13) from Hackwith Design House are available in seven colors, as well as adult and youth sizes. Ten percent of mask sales benefit the Domestic Abuse Project of Minneapolis.
11. The Fiesta Floral reversible face mask ($12.99) from Laura Hlavac in St. Paul is made from a stretchy, breathable poly/cotton/Spandex fabric blend.
12. For your nearest and dearest scientist: a periodic table face mask ($10) from Urban Acres Creative. Also available in soccer, lacrosse, football, hockey, tie-dye, leopard print, polka dots, and Buffalo plaid.
13. Winsome Goods dead stock cotton face masks come in two low-key chic versions: Style A is fitted and Style B is pleated. Both are $15 and include a filter pocket; remaining colors include khaki, black, fossil, and teal. And FYI: For every mask sold, one is donated to a medical or service professional in need.
14. The Be Well, Be Kind mask ($18-$25) from Louise Gray Studio is made with cotton and linen. Color combinations change as the Minneapolis-based design team moves through its fabric supply; shoppers may request a specific color, but it isn’t guaranteed.
15. Know someone who’d rather be canoeing in the Boundary Waters right now? This pleated camping-themed face mask ($10 each or three for $25) from Julie Meyer Leather Goods includes a filter pocket and nose bridge with a flexible wire for custom fit.
16. Um, hello genius. The Happy Hour mask ($20) from Tessa Louise includes a straw hole, so you can sip without removing your cover. The mask is available in graphic prints and traditional gingham.
17. The NY 77 Design cotton face mask ($18) from Atelier 957 comes in pinstripes, checks, plaids, and an ’80s-inspired face print that is very Robert Plant circa “Addicted to Love.”
18. Now why didn’t we think of that?! The Curious George cotton face mask from Maps and Scraps designer Wendy Smith sells for $11.50 on Etsy. It’s available in two kids’ sizes, plus a matching mask for adults. The Minneapolis-based maker offers many, many themes: Star Wars, Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Mickey Mouse, Harry Potter, Lion King, The Beatles, Grateful Dead, AC/DC, Kiss, Elvis, elephants, sharks, sloths, chickens, unicorns, jellyfish, turtles, horses, foxes, llamas, puppies, dragonflies, spiderwebs, bees, boomboxes, guitars, cassettes, lemons, bacon and eggs, bagels, hamburgers, chili peppers, avocados, glow-in-the-dark stars, and so much more.
19. Golden Rule Gallery in Excelsior has a terrific selection of masks. This Golden Desert Floral Viscose number ($20) is hand-screen printed, dyed, and sewn in Bali using dead stock cotton poplin. The shop also sells a classic Nantucket navy stripe mask ($10) and triple-layered tie-dye face masks ($14) in indigo, violet, olive, and pink and gray.
20. A portion of the proceeds from the Summer Selfie face mask ($15) by Ivan Idland benefit the Clotheir Design Source, a garment factory in St. Paul whose workers are toiling around the clock to make masks for medical workers.
21. The Big Magic face masks ($32) from Indigo & Snow are made with hand-dyed bamboo fabric that regulates to your body temperature, keeping you cooler in the sweltering summer months.
22. Check out this colorful Nubi Tribe African fabric face mask ($10). So many vibrant prints to choose from and they’re reversible.
23. The $12 adjustable face masks at GRAY Home + Lifestyle are sewn by a local seamstress using dead stock fabric.
24. This face mask/scarf combo from Minneapolis designer Amanda Stolle of Bird Industries is quite clever. It’s available in paisley, tie-dye, and other fabrics for $35 on Etsy.
25. Rawrrrr! The Big Kat face mask ($12) from Craftmade Aprons is also available in plain navy, green, gray, and black.
26. The ranger camouflage cotton mask ($16) from Ace General Store in Excelsior works in the woods or on the streets. The triple-layer design includes a filter pocket and a metal nose wire for a tailored fit. Other prints include navy tropical and cream nautical.
27. Happy, happy, joy, joy! This rainbow sprinkle mask ($22) by ACG is hand-painted on natural cotton muslin, so each one is unique.
28. Also from ACG: this cute pleated, reversible mask ($14-$15), available in kid and adult sizes.
29. For the die-hard Vikings fan in your life — or the Cheesehead you live to taunt — is this Agent Motif mask, available on Etsy for $16.76.
30. These cat masks from Miranda Rosa of My Bit of Wonder are sold on Etsy for $11.99 a pop. Choose your own feline adventure — the fabric is up to you.
31. When you buy a traditional protective face covering ($18) from äventyr, the brand will donate $3 to the Mill City Farmers Market relief fund. Masks are available in green/pewter or slate/pewter combos with adjustable tie sizing.
32. Mezamé Designs‘ founder Lauren Oland recently relocated from St. Paul to Austin, Texas, but she’s still selling her face masks ($14) via Etsy. Each one is sewn with remnant cloth from her zero-waste studio. Choose a “colorful” or “neutral” palette and the fabric itself will be a surprise.
33. In other eco-friendly news: The face masks ($10) from FOAT Designs are made by hand using cotton quilting scraps. You don’t get a say in the color or pattern (only sizing), but you can trust this local brand to whip up something nice.
34. The duo-tone, lined-canvas tie masks ($20) from Scott J. Lehmann come with three disposable filters each. Also: So many color options!
35. The animal-themed children’s masks ($60 for three) from Joy Noelle are made with a layer of non-woven polypropylene sewn between two layers of cotton. Nose clamp give the masks a more secure fit.
36. These triple-layer fitted masks ($18) from KOKOON come with filter pockets and are available in a delicate black eyelet fabric or embroidered aqua or yellow roses.
37. The machine-washable, fitted canvas face masks ($12) from Al’s Tailoring are all reversible.
38. Digging the Fawns & Flowers child face mask ($12) from McKie Splints? It comes in loads of other kid-friendly prints, including chickens and eggs, forest critters, and aquatic wildlife.
39. The ear loop masks ($14) by Strey Designs come with a filter pocket. Kiddo sizes available upon request.
40. Attention birdwatchers! When you buy an avian-print fabric face mask ($25) from Wild Birds Flying, 10 percent of the net profits go to support the conservation efforts of Audubon Minnesota.
41. 1crown3tiaras in Minneapolis sells its sweet child face masks for $14 on Etsy. Other prints include strawberries, hearts, and polka dots.
42. It’s back to basics with these made-in-St. Paul cotton face masks from Bean Jean Designs, sold three for $35.99 on Etsy. Masks include filter pockets and nose wires.
43. Michelle Fischer is experimenting with all kinds of groovy fabrics. Her masks sell for $13 a piece via Instagram; follow @masksupmpls for the latest releases. One size fits most, and 25 percent of the sales benefit a different local organization each month.
44. Love Your Melon has also gotten into the mask game — this navy pleated number ($20) is simple and versatile. The inner and outer layers are made with jersey cotton and the middle is polypropylene, and there’s a nose wire for custom fit.
45. We can’t take our eyes off this shibori-esque Lake Superior face mask ($15) from Carole Bruns Couture. Cotton masks include a filter pouch, and her line includes other Minnesota-inspired designs.
46. Hats off to these cotton face masks ($15) from WAY, a fashion label run by University of Minnesota graduates Heidi Woelfle, Regena Yu, and Abby Zamis. Proceeds from mask sales will be donated to The Sheridan Story and ACLU MN.
47. So much good stuff is coming out of SeedNStyle right now. The “Black/Trans/Queer AF” label focuses on sustainable and socially conscious apparel; masks are available in African, floral, animal, and whimsical prints on a $15 to $20 sliding scale.
48. How fun is this? FuzzButt Boutique offers matching mask-and-bandana sets for you and your doggo. The $25 pairings are customizable: adult or child size, elastic or ties, filter or no filter. Prints include purple dinosaurs, sushi, cats, pigs, stars, and plaid.
49. Anyone can rock the muted colors on these biodegradable, all-natural, zero-waste, linen tie masks by St. Paul’s Pigeon Eco Store, available for $19.80 on Etsy.
50. Michele and Travis Henley of Hopkins-based company Chase and Wander are making easy-breezy linen striped face masks, starting at $10.80 on Etsy.
51. Don’t be a sour puss! Cover your kisser with a juicy double-layer face mask from Lovin Lemons, available for $13.99 on Etsy. The Minneapolis designer works with myriad fabrics (donuts, lobsters, John Deere tractors, etc.) and even sells a fancy golden diamonds mask ($14.99), perfect for the black-tie affair none of us should be attending.
52. This beautiful alcohol ink face mask by Sarah Bells Studio is available for $15 to $20 on Etsy.
53. Rethink Tailoring & Sewing Lounge has itty-bitty dancing sailor masks for $10, plus other small-batch styles. They come in three sizes (including one for larger heads and longer faces); select the pay-it-forward option at checkout to help Rethink donate masks to shelters, hospitals, and others in need.
54. Can we get a hip-hip-hooray! for these super soft organic cotton face masks ($14) from Golden Rule Gallery, available in adult and child sizes? They come in dreamy colors like Moroccan Sea, Storm Gray, and Tuscan Mustard and include an interior paper foam lining.
55. Last but not least, check out the selection from Etsy seller MN Mask Designs. The start-up was founded by Black anti-racism educator Nicole Bates and employs local BIPOC youth in the production of its masks, which cost $12 to $15 and are available in more than two dozen designs (avocados, bubbles, dinosaurs, peacocks, etc).
