Harrogate friends create 'army of sewers' as new face mask laws come in

Inspired by their grandparents' reluctance to leave their homes during the pandemic, Cal MacPherson, and Tom Lee decided to launch their own face mask company - with part of the profits going to the NHS Heroes.

After less than three months the two friends, both aged 25, have built up an army of 50 local sewers, produced more than 7,000 face masks and are well on their way to raising their target of raising £5,000 as a 'thank you' to Harrogate Hospital.

Cal MacPherson said: "We got the idea a few months ago when my grandparents felt uncomfortable leaving their house without suitable protection.

"At that point it was hard to get hold of a great quality face covering. It was really challenging to get hold of a good fitting mask, and I wasn’t confident in the alternatives I had seen.

"So we got in touch with a local sewer who agreed to make a couple of masks for each of them, and included a third layer filter pocket to add a little more protection and to put their minds at ease."

The Government's new coronavirus protection measures which come in from July 24 mean anyone caught without a mask in a shop - or who refuses to wear one - can be fined up to £100 by the police.

Shops will also have has the right to refuse entry to anyone who refuses to comply with the new law.

Cal and Tom, who are both keen golfers and have membership at Rudding Park in Harrogate, launched their website called www.facemasksupply.co.uk in June and began researching the competition.

Cal said: "Any handmade masks I found were selling for north of £15, and were of a very poor quality, and didn’t include a filter pocket which would give a “triple layer” covering.

"They were also being shipped very slowly as demand outweighed supply with seamstresses being limited to their own time to produce them.

"Once I had spoken to one of my good friends, a seamstress, I was thrilled with how our first face masks turned out, so it just went from there."

The aim of the new company was to provide a reusable and comfortable 100% cotton fabric functional alternative to the disposable options currently available, whilst adding a touch of personality to a new accessory that could be with us for the foreseeable future.

All the masks are designed and made in Harrogate and surround areas, and are available for sale between £9 to £13 in a variety of stylish patterns.

Cal said: "With a lot of logistics and hard work - we have built an army of sewers that can deal with the demand and Help us dispatch the orders very efficiently.

"As a result, we have been able to offer jobs to over 50 local seamstresses and designers who were out of work due to lockdown.

"We aim to continue to expand operations and embrace the local spirit of our wonderful town."

Cal and Tom are, perhaps, the perfect fit for a face mask business.

Tom works in e-commerce while Cal has been working for the family business for the last five years, specialising in hand and machine sewing, embroidery and quilting, both online and at outlet stores.

They are currently working with a number of small local businesses to provide branded solutions for Harrogate retail stores when it comes to reusable face masks.

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