Where to buy face masks in Seattle when you have no idea how to use a sewing machine

I wish I had mom’s sewing skills. She lives up in Vancouver Canada and she’s made face masks for our family but it’s hard to send things from Canada right now and I don’t want her going to the post office. But because I’m horrible with a sewing machine I’ve been looking for places to buy face masks in Seattle- the CDC just started recommending we all start wearing masks and I want to make sure I do the right thing. (Also, King County where we live in Seattle also now mandates that we wear face masks so we are definitely supporting this initiative)

NO-SEW MASK IDEAS

I ordered a mask online but it doesn’t come for about a week so in the meantime I’m going to need a no-sew mask if I need to go to the grocery store. There is an idea for a mask made out of a t-shirt on the CDC website that I’m going to try. There is also one I’ve seen made out of a bandana. I don’t know if I have a bandana but I think I can use a towel or other piece of cloth. I was wondering if maybe even a turtle neck might work if I flip it up over my face.

And where to actually buy face masks in Seattle

It would defeat the purpose of social distancing if I told you actual stores in Seattle to go to to buy face masks. So while these are Seattle businesses, you can purchase the masks from them online. I’ll keep updating as I hear of more. It’s crazy how scarce these were only a few weeks ago, but it seems like there are more and more places popping up where we can now find face masks.

I bought my face mask from a place called The Foundry Clothing Print and Embroidery Shop. They make face masks for cost for healthcare workers and for the public for a little bit more. I like that they are a small Seattle business that has pivoted during a tough time. And as Seattleites it’s really important that we support our Seattle businesses.

Casual Industrees is another Seattle business that has pivoted and they are selling masks online too. I like that they have different designs-if we’re going to have to wear these for a while, I guess let’s make them stylish. Another Seattle company that usually makes bags is making masks as well-you can buy masks for yourself or donate to essential service workers through the Tom Bihn website and I didn’t realize this company was based in Seattle until I started researching where to find locally made face masks.

Seattle Sounders fans can show their team spirit with Seattle Sounders Face Masks sold by the MLS. We drove by the stadium recently and my guys were so sad that this is the first year since they were two years old that they won’t be going to a game. The NFL shop sells Seattle Seahawks face masks if you are missing your Seahawks too.

And there are two Pike Place Market vendors who are now selling masks too. Kitten Mittens Club makes masks and donates 10% of profits to Paws. And City Kids Style is also making masks

My pink outdoor jacket is from Outdoor Research and it’s really well made. But I love right now that Outdoor Research has converted it’s Seattle Factory to making masks and other personal protective medical equipment for hospitals. You can’t buy face masks for personal use from Outdoor Research but it makes me happy that a Seattle business is doing this really great thing. Kaas Tailored just north of Seattle is also making masks and if you can help them out they have more information about what they are doing and what they need on their website. Swaddle Designs a company we used a ton when our babies were small has made a lot of masks for hospitals too.

Face Masks from beyond

I was tempted to order a 5 pack from Buck Mason that are anti-microbial for 30-ish washes. You can also order a mask from fashion brand Michael Costello for $15. Sanctuary in LA is also making a 5 pack you can purchase that also donates to organization in need. And this one from Hedley and Bennett gives one back to healthcare for every mask you buy. I follow Stylishly Colorful on Instagram and learned about a designer named Sophie Cochevelou from her feed-if I could buy any mask out there right now, it would be this panda one for sure. Also this designer Alice and Olivia face mask for pre-order is pretty adorable as well. Freshly Picked makes the cutest baby shoes-I checked on their masks but they were sold out when I looked (Any chance you’re one of the lucky someone’s who ordered one?)

More big companies are getting into face mask production. You can buy face masks from Old Navy and Anthropologie. I still can’t believe that face masks in 2020 would be anything other than the ones we used to use for facials.

Are you making your own face masks or will you have to buy them like me? Now I’m really wishing that I learned how to sew!

Terumi

Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys.  She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live.  She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)