Yesterday morning, the ladies of Shore Brand visited three area schools to donate approximately 4,000 high-quality masks to students and staff. Sarasota’s Booker Elementary and Brookeside Middle, and Bradenton’s Ballard Elementary were among the schools that received these unexpected donations. “When the pandemic hit our country, and specifically our community, we at Shore wanted to make a difference,” says owner Susan Leonard. “We wanted to give back to those who give so much. Who better than our teachers? We all have a story about that special teacher that redirected our lives for the better and gave us hope and encouragement, all while challenging us at the same time.” 

The masks were developed in a small family-owned factory in LA, which is where the local brand produces its clothing and swimwear lines. Shore designers made sure to construct the masks to CDC standard guidelines in terms of fit and fabric, including two layers of a Polyamide Spandex blend, much like the high-end swimsuits Shore is well-known for supplying at its two retail boutiques and online shop. “We developed our adjustable masks from upcycled fabrics and lined them with a soft Supima cotton backing for safety and comfort,” says Leonard. The fabric fibers are tightly woven together to help assist in blocking more bacteria from exiting or entering the nose while moisture-wicking properties keep them breathable to the face. The ear straps, similar to tie-bikini strings, are entirely adjustable for a custom fit for the wearer, whether adult or child. 

“We chose to upcycle fabrics from past productions to make our masks more sustainable and reduce waste,” says Victoria Madrid, wholesale account manager for Shore. “We wanted to donate them to the schools because the teachers are such impactful figures in all of our lives. We wanted to give back to them as they spend years giving back to their students and the communities. It is also so very important to us that all students and teachers are kept safe and healthy during the Covid-19 pandemic and this was our way to help!” 

Since the start of the pandemic, Shore has also donated masks to a few area doctors offices in need, all of its retail wholesale partners for their teams and families, as well as neighboring local restaurants and grocery stores.

These masks do not replace other recommended measures to stop the community spread of COVID-19. Please continue to follow CDC guidelines, practice social distancing, wash your hands, and refrain from touching your face.

Photo courtesy of Shore. Shop their masks here.