When it came to 2020 fashion, there is a common theme in the top stories of the year — masks, masks and more masks. It makes sense as the mask is the one accessory that most people didn’t have before, and the number one accessory that everyone now needed to purchase. Thankfully, local fashion designers stepped up to the plate to fill the void and Torontonians were more than happy to support local when it came to their masks.

Where to buy fashionable reusable masks 

The top fashion story of the year was a full list of twelve local shops and designers that were making and carrying face masks. From notable names like Narces, Hayley Elsaesser and Peace Collective to smaller operations such as Doll Factory by Damzels — the list covered them all.

Joseph Tassoni’s reusable masks and gloves 

Joining the ranks of local designers who answered the call to make masks was Canadian designer Joseph Tassoni. He took it further and also donated a portion of each purchase to Joseph Brant Hospital in Burlington. Tassoni uses a specially-sourced material that resists the build up of moisture and bacteria which differentiates his masks from the more common cotton variations. He also began producing gloves.

Greta Constantine’s fashion-forward masks 

One of the country’s top design houses, Greta Constantine began making high-end and fashion-forward masks for its fans. Instead of making the masks available online, designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong chose to sell the masks at local small businesses across the country to help the suffering retail landscape.

The best fashion boutiques now open in Toronto 

Once Toronto moved into Stage 2 of the province’s reopening plan, residents were eager to hit local boutiques to find some pieces to spruce up their summer wardrobes. This column outline 10 boutiques that were happy to finally be opening their doors to welcome back local shoppers.

Nonie’s sustainable and ethically-made face masks 

Of course as masks became necessary, the increased waste from single-use disposable masks became a concern as well. Canadian womenswear brand Nonie decided to create sustainable and ethically-made reusable face masks to combat this issue. The masks are Canadian-made with 100 per cent upcycled cotton and the collection features a large variety of colours to suit anyone’s style.