isewMasks do-it-yourself mask-making kit products are locally manufactured, affordable and designed to teach new skills while filling a need during the coronavirus pandemic.
Founders Propel LLC President Clare King and Cynthia Treen, who has owned a hand-stitching business for over a decade, combined their skills to join the mask-making movement at the beginning of Rhode Island’s stay-at-home advisory, and officially opened up shop during the first week of April. isewMasks kits include the materials to sew four reusable face masks for adults and children with easy-to-follow instructions in both English and Spanish.
The kits use athleticwear material from Darlington Fabrics Corp. in Westerly and elastics from Stretch Products Corp. and Northeast Knitting Inc., both in Pawtucket.
“There are some masks out there that may be more glamorous, but this is filling a real need,” said Treen. “And it’s allowing people to feel empowered that they can do it themselves.”
A four-pack of sewable colored masks costs $23.99, while a four-pack of sewable white masks costs $21.99, both of which can be purchased at isewmasks.com or on Treen’s Etsy shop. King estimated that by May almost 1,000 kits had been purchased. Now King and Treen are branching out to stores in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
Alexa Gagosz is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Gagosz@PBN.com.