A virtual exhibition at the Westminster Menswear Archive traces the evolution of our relationship with masks since the beginning of the pandemic. Photo: AFP
Over recent months, the mask has become one of our everyday objects. So much so that the Westminster Menswear Archive has decided to dedicate a digital exhibition, opening next month, to the ubiquitous anti-Covid accessory, often a source of faux-pas, misunderstandings and disputes.
Just a year ago, it was the exclusive domain of health care workers. The mask has rapidly evolved from a piece of personal medical protective equipment to an accessory that is carefully chosen for its usefulness and its aesthetic.
The exhibition will also feature a parallel photographic element articulating how masks have become highly disposable and a danger to the environment.
“The public attitude to masks over the last 12 months has hardened,” said Groves. “For such an unassuming and uncomplicated object, they have quickly become a symbolic and contentious artefact.” He said that as well as becoming an everyday item, for some people the mask had attained a darker symbolism. “They have also become a means of policing other people’s dress and behaviour.”
Groves said the fashion industry had a complicated relationship with masks. Though some labels had masks in their collections before the pandemic, most notably Virgil Abloh’s Off-White, everything changed in March 2020. “Covid-19 has compelled all brands to take a position on masks,” Groves said, adding: “We were surprised that designers didn’t produce masks for most of the year.”