Dutch design platform Droog has launched Le Freak, a mask that uses colourful tassels to express personality.
Droog collaborator Yev Kravt designed the mask ? which she is selling though Droog's online shop ? after being uninspired by other face coverings on the market.
At a time when it is often mandatory to wear a mask, to slow the spread of Covid-19, Kravt wanted to create a design that would bring cheer to both herself and those around her.
Le Freak is a mask with a fringe of tassels
"I found the commonly used designs for regular face masks a bit dull," she told Dezeen. "I feared the lack of expression, the lack of style."
By adding a fringe of fabric tassels, the designer was able to create a mask with its own unique style. It is intended to bring a variety of references to mind, from Arabian Nights to the Addams Family. Unlike most masks, this design brings extra movement to the face
While masks typically have a static appearance, this one brings a new form of animation to the face.
"Our facial expression is hard to recognise when all we have to go on is our eyes," Kravt said.
"A Le Freak mask has a flirtatious aspect. The colour and movement back and forth create a very playful appearance."
The design is presented on the faces of famous statues
Kravt came up with the idea while collaborating with Droog founder Renny Ramaker on the exhibition Onward & Upward: Art in the Garden of Life, which is currently on show at Droog's ...