Unmasking Our Potential

My Aunt Ida turned 104 earlier this year. I enjoy my conversations with her, especially now when I need a little perspective on life.

Ida has been through every major event of the 20th and 21st  centuries. She made it through the Spanish Flu, the Great Depression, World War II, McCarthyism, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, 9/11, the 2008 financial crisis, and now -- knock on wood -- this pandemic.

She, along with my mother Rose and their sister Miriam, showed me how tough times can shape us. They never had it easy, but they were altruistic, dedicated to their work and families, and resourceful – which in Chicago, where I grew up, means being frugal yet generous, and scrappy.

 It’s only now, after Michael Stars just finished sewing our first production run of non-medical masks, that I realized how much we channeled their “can do” spirit.

The decision to make the masks was easy. It was probably the easiest decision I’ve ever made.

The process of making them? Not so easy.

Along the way we’ve learned three lessons that we’ll remember long after this pandemic is over: 

1. Adopt a startup mentality when taking on something new and difficult

Actually, I don't think I know any other mentality! I love the intensity, purpose, and creativity that comes with doing something new and difficult.   

I was bound and determined to get masks made.  Continuous news reports of N-95 mask shortages for frontline healthcare workers and first responders only increased my sense of urgency.

At the same time, I needed patience (well, just a little) to give myself and the team some space to think through how to do it and set realistic goals for what we could achieve.

You don’t just flip a switch and turn your fashion company into a production house – especially during a pandemic.

Our team knows how to forecast, plan, and fulfill orders fast. We sew samples in our L.A. facilities, so we know exactly how our clothing should look and fit.  

However, we don’t produce clothing in volume on our premises. That work is done by our longtime, local manufacturing partners.

Our challenge was to transform ourselves into a mini-production house that could produce thousands of masks for donation to community clinics, hospitals, and create special styles for our customers. 

With my heads of design and production, we poured over the latest pandemic manufacturing safety guidelines and became part of the mask making effort through L.A. Protects.

We were then able bring in our sample sewers, set up socially-distanced sewing stations, distribute gallons of hand sanitizer, masks and gloves, create patterns and prototypes, and project how much material we would need. 

2. Get creative with leftovers 

If you grew up with modest means like I did, you know what I mean when I talk about using leftovers creatively. At the end of the week, out came the leftovers from the fridge, none could be wasted. Your parents tried, mostly in vain, to turn them into something edible. Mystery casserole anyone?

Luckily, in our warehouse, we had high quality leftovers – rolls of supima cotton, cotton blends, stripes, ultra-rib jerseys, and animal print gauze, a material that we love to use in our summer line.

We kept experimenting with different designs until we felt we had two perfect styles of cloth mask, one molded and one pleated, that are protective and stylish -- because, of course, we are a fashion company.

3. Don’t underestimate the power and rewards of purpose

 Our team of sample sewers has worked with us for years. They do beautiful work and help set the high standard of quality in our company.  

I wasn’t surprised when I saw them rise to the challenge of becoming production mask makers. I’m very fortunate that I get to work with such dedicated people. The current goal is to make thousands of white non-medical masks to donate to local community clinics and hospitals, and to organizations that are helping our most vulnerable.  

We also just launched two styles for sale on our site and we’re going to keep making more!We’re new to production and we have a few kinks to work out, but we’re working every day to make things run as efficiently as possible. 

What we do now, matters for the future

Like Ida, Rose, and Miriam, I am acutely aware that what we do today will shape our future. 

Today’s extreme conditions have driven companies -- some for the first time -- to discover new levels of generosity, spirit, and commitment. 

Even a company like ours, that’s long been involved in philanthropy and activism, has discovered that underneath our masks, we’re capable of so much more than we even knew. 

Let’s not lose what we’ve learned.

Let’s use it to create a new generation of smart, compassionate, and empathetic businesses that can make a profit and make a difference.