Fashion Professor answers face mask appeal

A Professor from the British School of Fashion is producing cotton face masks in her spare time to help slow the spread of COVID-19. 

Professor Natascha Radclyffe-Thomas, a former childrenswear designer, is using leftover fabric to create masks for a local hospice and charities in London. 

Natascha, who teaches Marketing and Sustainable Business at GCU London, answered an appeal from a vet who had been approached by a hospice which was running low on protective supplies. 

The masks are collected and sterilised to industry standards before being passed on for use. The project has been expanded to cover several London-based charities. 

Professor Radclyffe-Thomas, who has been using a pattern available online, said: "I’ve been spending my evenings, weekends and GCU rest days cutting and stitching the fabric masks using leftover material I had from my days as a childrenswear designer and household linens. 

"I adapted the design to use elastic instead of ties after reading research from Cambridge University and opted for two layers of cotton. 

"They've said the masks are a great fit and are cheerful looking." 

Natascha was a partner in award-winning luxury childrenswear fashion label Miss Fleur before becoming a full-time academic at the London College of Fashion. 

The Fu Face Mask design is available to download from Free Sewing Org.