I do appreciatet not everyone can afford to make them for nothing and a reasonable fee to cover costs is fine its the few out there taking advantage that I don’t like.
It’s nice that your step daughter can make some for you,better than struggling with the needlesl.
I was due new glasses last year, finally got around to booking it in and the day before my appt we started lockdown, they are long overdue now…son’t be able to sew by the end of it 
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these are the best style for miniature zombie sloths 
it’s triple layered and measures 2cm wide.
not for sale 
(all any of us can do is what feels right in the circumstances) x
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I was talking to my husband about this thread and some masks that I’d seen priced a bit high. He said ‘I’d want a face transplant for that’ ! 
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Well said.
£10 for a mask isn’t profiteering in my view. I bought a child size camp cotton one for my 7 year old. He found the medical grade ones that we bought from ebay just before lockdown uncomfortable. The seller is a designer I know (on etsy). I know her work to be well made, very good quality fabric. Also I wouldn’t want a mum run business to go under in these times. Also some of the mask designs take a little while to make and need 2-3 different fabrics. The pattern may need to be tweaked, postage costs covered and their time covered.
Its all well and good making for free if you have a big fabric stash or can afford it. And have a different income stream to cover your bills.
For many selling masks is what is keeping their bills paid and food on the table.
Further more. Masks are used for dust protection, fumes protection and festival wear.
Many festival mask makers are pivoting making simpler designs for the public as well as fashionable embellished ones. To be worn over a medical grade mask just to make them look nicer and last longer.
If worried about writing a disclaimer go over to Etsy, who actually asked their millions of sellers to make masks via email. And provided them with a disclaimer. So just search for face masks on there, read the description and use their disclaimer.
Many makers I have seen who sell masks for £40 on etsy or their own site are making masks out of designer fabrics, highly embellished to go with their festival brand. Then donating a portion of that money to various charities. Sometimes 90% of it with the rest to pay the staff they don’t want to lay off. One designer did this and raised over $23,500 to donate to helping families in her native Kosovo a place hard hit and that no one is talking about.
And another thing. Its so easy to complain about indie sellers.
I don’t see anyone here picking up on the fact that couture brands are charging £100 or more for their masks? No idea if they are actually donating to charity.
Whereas there are designer brands who are pivoting their entire staff and business to making ppe for hospitals because as Michael costello said (US designer, former contestant on project runway) he has the machines and the staff. So many brands can’t get collections made because fabrics may come from italy, China, be beaded in India, for example.
I don’t think it’s “sick” for people to supply what is in demand. Bills don’t stop because of a pandemic. And people deserve to make the money they need to cover this.
In my case my business was going to be making festival wear and festival masks for Burning Man, Glastonbury, EDC La’s Vegas. Embellished to go with their outfits. All my events are canceled. All my market’s are canceled. I am going to be handsewing with needle and thread as my machine is broken. And so they will take longer. I have been sewing up different seam samples, printing patterns, researching different patterns, variations on those patterns and its all time. I have kids to feed, don’t want to be going to a food bank (have had to in the past). Which is the reality of many business owners right now.
I will be donating money to charity as well as buying fabric to make to donate to my local school who has NO ppe of any kind.
So no its not sick or greedy to sell masks for a profit. You don’t know peoples circumstances.
If you can do it for free and have other means of covering your bills and keeping warm, fed, kids sorted then good for you. But don’t spoil your good deed with a high horse and judgment of others who can’t do the same.
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Supply and demand, that’s what it’s all about. All the items in Folksy shops aren’t there to make their shops look attractive, or for Folksy to make their pages attractive, they are there to sell, designers/makers produce what they think will sell. A few years ago I made fabric gift and party bags, they were in demand, so I supplied them, in fact the demand became too great for my supply, so I stopped selling them as I felt I was on a production line, and not just sewing as a hobby. Make your masks, sell them and make a profit and I hope it helps towards making ends meet for you.
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@daniellescott1 I started this thread as a comment not a complaint against anyone.
Also your link to your shop is incorrect and is not working.
As far as pricing and comparing to designer brands is concerned everyone is entitled to price as they see fit and have their own views and opinions.
The majority of handmade businesses are all in the same boat, you are not the only one who has had their events/markets cancelled. Mine have too and the items I would have sold I am now listing on Folksy. I agree we all have to do the best we can and no one in this thread is saying any different from what I have read. What I don’t agree with is people profiteering out of the need of others. People who are selling nothing but face masks etc at extortionate prices and it is alright saying so much will go to charity but there is no proof of that. I am not saying that you are not going to donate your profits to charity and at the end of the day people buy what they can afford and if people are on a low or no income they are not going to buy high priced items. If you are registered self employed which you should be if you are selling have you tried applying for one of the government grants or the other claim of earnings one. I can’t claim anything because my trading profits were too low as the money I had earned I put back into the business to buy equipment and supplies but my daughter who is an illustrator is able to get some money. Here is link to the gov.uk site to see what is available https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus/business-support
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Zoe, why would you immediately assume that I am not registered? I am registered and do my tax return every year. My link obviously needs fixing and thankyou for letting me know.
I,m not complaining, but pointing out that others complaining about price of masks when they don’t know the circumstances isn’t fair.
Thankyou for the link but
I also cannot go for the grants. But am seeing if I am eligible for a bounce bank loan. I have also put money back into my business and was starting up a second one for my handspun yarns and weavings.
I know that many people have had their events canceled and addressed that to a extent in my post.
In terms of no proof of donations to charity, many do post a screenshot of their donations onto their social media. And if in doubt I don’t see why a potential client can’t ask for that proof before supporting the business.
Yes people will buy what they can afford but your post wasn’t about that.
Again we need to not judge people for their prices. We don’t know their costs, how long it took then to make and who their intended customer is.
And you may think its extortion but depending on what the rest of the brand does it may not be.
As I said I have seen masks highly embellished in couture fabrics, or completely hand beaded sell for £40 and sometimes more as they are a artwork mask. So unusual materials are used and they sell more practical masks for a lower price point. One business I know is primarily a high end festival fashion business whose garments can go for £300-£800. So their customers will buy them. Money does go to charity as they show proof.
Some of these new mask shops may well close down after the pandemic. Some may stay around as they can make masks for other uses.
Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion. But we have to also think about if that opinion is judgmental.
I definitely do not support shoos charging high prices and not donating some of that to charity or their time to making ppe for a local school, hospice or care home that needs it. From what I have seen many indie businesses are doing just that.
@daniellescott1 your tone is very aggressive and I did not assume anything, I know nothing about you and I am not really sure what your problem is here! You keep on about embellished masks which is not the topic of this thread at all. We are a friendly group on Folksy and try to support each other. Yes we all have different opinions and we don’t always agree with someone else’s view but sometimes we have to agree to disagree. I am sorry if you did not like my reply with the links to the government site but I was just trying to be helpful. I looked at your shop and you are not selling masks so I am not sure why you are getting so upset about this thread. Anyway sorry if you took all this the wrong way but if you had read the original post in this thread it was a comment not a complaint or criticism.
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Zoe I am not being aggressive at all believe me.
I am not getting upset either, yes I, m talking about embellished masks as the most priciest examples I have seen are so. I have also addressed pricing of masks in general in my response. If I do seem upset its that some people in this thread have had to almost justify (the bridal shop thats pivoted being one) their decision to charge more than people expect.
I know you are trying to support each other but asking if I was registered is presumptuous. I wouldn’t ask that or say that to anyone.
I also thanked you for the link if you read my post.
As I said everyone has a right fo a opinion we dont have to agree. But calling me aggressive is not the way to debate anything.
Anyway this is going in circles now.
Have a great day. And I wish you every success.
No I have not put masks into my shop yet. They were going to go onto my own website but that’s not complete yet.
My goodness, things have moved on since this thread began! I was going to say that I’ve made a few masks for my nearest and dearest, but, as I’m not a needleperson first and foremost, I did find it a bit of a chore and thought of buying some spares from fellow Folksy sellers… Don’t really know what the arguments are about and not really interested. My message is, if you need a mask, buy one from Folksy, there’s plenty of choice!
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Right MemyCrafts. From what I have been seeing from friends with businesses most in non fashion things. They didn’t want to start selling but did because of such high demand from their neighbors and others in their community. And of course for a good amount of businesses that’s what’s keeping them in business. I was planning to make masks for festival goers to go with my new collection of adult festival wear. I used to just make kids jewellery and tutus and bows. But from working at festivals as a steward then security noticed that the adults wore similar things and wore masks like the olson one. So am trying to stay on track with that product and make for my community.
Yeah I, ll stay afloat. Also creating ecourses on how to make the rhinestoned caps I sell in my shop and fascinators. As well as making resin drop spindles for handspinnning yarn.
Your bags sound amazing! If you make them again please send me a message. (0: going to follow your shop now.
Take care and stay safe.
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My shop is empty at the moment. I have a few quilts that I want to list, but I am waiting for motivation to set in. I don’t think I will be making masks. I find it easier to make quilts than it is to photograph, write a description and list. I’ll have to start a to do list.
I am not joining in the making of them but heard a good tip from a Dr, (we may having to wear them soon) have a bowl of soapy water inside your door the drop the mask in for a while and don’t rinse out the soap, it could be a bit more of a barrier. In the mean time get some spot cream for your face!!!
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How bizaare - only this morning I purchased one from JustineNettleton from https://folksy.com/shops/Justineartist
Looked ok, and she has had lots of reviews.
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Yes! A bought a couple from her. I like mine, needed them to visit my 93yr old Dad, him inside, me outside!
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I’ve been washing my hands and face as soon as I come in for the last few months, we have a downstairs bathroom that I can get to without touching any of the inside door handles (motion activated taps would be useful though 
) with my mask I put it in the sink in the kitchen, squirt on some liquid soap and pour on water from a recently boiled kettle (after I’ve made a cuppa of course!) I mainly wear them in shops (unless my hayfever is bad then it’s on from getting out of the house/car to getting back in!) and if I’m not at home when taking it off it goes straight into a plastic bag until I can get to soak it.
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@folksycontent Now that the Best seller list and the New Shop list are 50% face masks is it perhaps time to remove the special face masks feature… otherwise visitors to the site might get the idea that that is all the Folksy is about…
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It might be nice to use the space thats dedicated to face masks on the front page in the future for a weekly theme. Perhaps chajge the category every Monday, and choose various themes so that everyone gets a chance to be featured, we could even have a week for glass or bears
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Great idea…
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