Designer masks
Numerous artisan studios and shops in Madrid have expanded their offerings to include this new accessory which health measures have made an essential part of our lives. You’ll find an array of models to choose from below… By Silvia Roba
Huertas, 37
Metro: ANTÓN MARTÍN
Making garments that are lovely on the outside as well as the inside is one of the missions of this Madrid firm, which likes to approach everything it does with joy. For Peseta, wasting time, material or energy is “a downer”. That's why, with the many printed fabrics it uses to make handbags and other accessories, it now makes artisan face masks too. There are several models: masks featuring maps, coloured polka dots and original motifs which are constantly changing, ranging from squirrels to ice cream cones. The outer layer is a cotton-polyester blend, and the inside is reinforced with a light material that gives the mask its shape. There are also two 100% cotton inner layers that give the filter pocket a perfect finish and ensure it won’t unravel in the wash. From September on, the shop will also sell single-use, officially approved filters as well as cases to carry your mask in!
San Pedro, 7
Metro: ANTÓN MARTÍN
In this original sewing workshop, which is the brainchild of Teresa Barrera, they like to share all of their know-how. That's why they’re offering classes each month to teach people to make their own masks at home. For the less nimble-fingered, they also sell them ready-made. Their stock includes masks made from imported 100% cotton Japanese fabrics with two very soft layers and "Drive Car” kits that include matching bow ties.
Sustainability is their mandate, artisan craftsmanship is their technology, and people are their priority. These are the pillars that sustain this cheerful, colourist Madrid fashion firm, which has also branched out into masks. “Since we are going to have to wear this accessory for a while, let’s try to make it environmentally friendly and attractive to brighten up our daily life a bit”, they state. Their masks are made of a double layer of organic, ultra-soft cotton. They have a filter pocket and are reusable and washable. They sell masks with prints, muslin masks in solid colours, and embroidered masks.
San Gregorio, 5
Metro: CHUECA
Kiko Font is the creative director of Duarte, a firm founded in Madrid in 2016. Its catalogue of garments for men and women includes masks made of organic cotton and recycled fabrics, which are the perfect accent for any look. They have a triple inner layer and are available in four colours: pink, green, black and white.
Ruda, 8
Metro: LA LATINA
Burlap, Alpujarra fabric and thin canvas are the materials that Eduardo works with to bring cushions, tablecloths, bags and a host of other objects to life. All of them are inspired by rural life. His customers had started to ask him for masks made of these fabrics, and he’s working to meet that demand. Eturel's masks are handmade and individually cut, because “they are striped and it’s essential for them to have a perfect fit”. As the fabrics are relatively heavy, they’re perfect for winter.
Aletheia is a handmade clothing brand with a circular economy model that doesn’t generate textile waste. Its masks are made one by one: the outer part, from silk coloured with plant-based dyes, and the inner part, with three layers of medical cotton. Drops of CPTG essential oils are added to each layer to boost the immune system. They are available in 30 colours.
Maps are a shared passion for geomatics professionals Marta and Miguel Ángel, who, after studying sewing, bookbinding and restoration of wood and old paper, use their expertise to create unique objects including handkerchiefs, fans, backpacks... and masks. With a cartographic flair, of course. For the middle and inner layers, they use filters and cotton fabric that's 100% waterproof, antibacterial and breathable. Customers can select from over 50 fabrics and customise their masks with the embroidery of their choice.
One by one and a half metres of 100% cotton fabric with a rustic finish is the blank canvas they use to create their masks. They start by drawing outlines for the embroidery machines on beige fabric. Their experience and creativity bring to life a range of memories in this very special collection, called Cicatrices (Scars). There are two types: masks that lie straight across the bridge of the nose and masks that form a point. The pattern? Each one is different, so... it’s a surprise!
Conde Duque, 48
Metro: SAN BERNARDO
Sisters Maica and Laura de la Carrera have specialised in African textiles for twenty years, one as a fashion designer and the other as a historian. Championing the continent’s culture through fabric is extremely important to them, which is why they've added some very original face masks to their offerings. They have different series (Orígenes, Malibú, Bologán), but the most popular is their family pack, which includes four masks made from high-quality waxed cotton in vibrant colours and prints.
Corredera Baja de San Pablo, 26
Metro: TRIBUNAL
You’ll find as many as 22 different models at this studio-shop that makes dresses for today’s women, inspired by the world of the 1950s, rockabilly and the golden age of advertising on Madison Avenue. They have masks with tropical patterns, dinosaur prints and even cat faces.
Plaza Mayor, 27
Metro: ÓPERA / SOL
The shop in Plaza Mayor Tourist Centre is a tribute to Madrid’s artisans. In it, you’ll find masks rooted in Madrid’s history, offering a nod to its 19th century chulapos and chulapas (working class men and women), with red polka dots for her and flat cap-inspired patterns for him. They’re made of waterproof, breathable, antibacterial fabric and will last at least 25 washes.
ALSO AVAILABLE IN MUSEUMS
Some of our museums also sell masks in their shops, inspired by a selection of the most famous works in their collections. The Prado Museum, for example, sells masks with plant and dreamlike motifs borrowed from Bosch's Garden of Earthly Delights. 
The Reina Sofía Museum has various models, including one that depicts elements from Cubist painter Juan Gris’ work La fenêtre ouverte (Open Window).
The Sorolla Museum uses details from the Valencian painter’s works, such as Lilies, The Little Sailing Boat and Strolling Along the Seashore, and the National Archaeological Museum has masks that depict elements from a mosaic from the Roman village of Ramalete and from the Egyptian sarcophagus of Taremetchenbastet, as well as some of the bison from the Altamira Caves, and the Lady of Elche.
The works of Mark Rothko, Mondrian, Renoir and Klee, among other masters, decorate the Thyssen-Bornemisza Museum's masks. 
Silvia Roba is a well-travelled journalist who has roamed the world so she can tell others about it. She is content manager for esMADRIDmagazine and the coordinator of Bloggin' Madrid. What does she like best? Getting lost in the city. Follow her!