‘Bringing colour and joy’

Bahrain’s fight against the coronavirus (COVID-19) is getting some colour with an item that has become a part of everyday life – masks. Noor Khamdan and Nada Alawi are Bahraini entrepreneurs who are giving a positive spin to the mandatory precaution of wearing masks when in public.

They aim to raise awareness and add enthusiasm to this practice, which has been introduced to help curb the spread of COVID-19 in the Kingdom. Noor is the founder of BH Masks, an online store that sells mixed cotton fabric masks to help Bahrain fight the coronavirus.

Her designs are many, and they include various patterns, plain colours, and even the Bahraini flag. “The mask you are wearing is to protect you and others against COVID-19 and to also bring colour and joy into your life in these hard times,” Noor was quoted as saying.

“By giving people the option to invest in colourful, washable masks, we are ensuring medical masks are saved for those who need it the most, such as medical staff.” BH-Masks are selling their products for BD1.2 apiece. There are masks for both adults and children.

Meanwhile, Nada is the co-founder of the Annada brand, which blends fashion and art. They repurpose uniquely designed scarves into masks, with the hope of giving people “something different”. Nada was quoted as saying: “Some people want to wear something that gives them a bit of happiness, a bit of inspiration.

“With masks being mandatory, you can’t tell someone’s feelings; you can’t tell if they’re smiling at you. “At least this is a way to tell someone’s personality when they have colour on their face.”

According to their website, the Annada mask sets are part of a campaign called “Cover-Up for a Good Cause”, with 25 per cent of the proceeds going to a local charity. “Even at times like this, you want to get a surprise and to feel like you’re getting beauty,” Nada said. To see some of the masks available for order, visit bh-masks.com or annadaonline.com.