Halima Aden & Anywear Team Up To Create Masks For Hijabi Frontline Workers

Since the beginning of the Covid-19 crisis, shortages of masks and PPE gear have posed a problem, particularly within the United States. Thanks to generous donations from private organisations and designers making efforts to produce additional supplies, the situation has improved. Still, even when frontline workers have access to the right gear, issues can arise. Created for short-term use rather than 24/7 wear, traditional masks can quickly become uncomfortable. In fact many hospital workers have reported scarring and irritation due to the restrictive ear straps. For hijabi doctors and nurses, the situation is further complicated by standard-issue masks that don’t account for headscarves and facial coverings.

With its debut collection, Anywear attempts to address those issues. Dubbed “Banding Together”, the capsule of specially designed face coverings offers an alternative to the omnipresent N95 mask. Fashion heavyweights such as hairstylist Chris McMillan and make-up artist Daniel Martin were among the first to collaborate with Anywear on masks. Now model Halima Aden has come on board with a range of hijab and turban sets. Many brands have pivoted to mask making, but few have addressed the needs of frontline workers from all faiths. Aden’s custom hijabs add something new to the equation and the market – precisely what Anywear’s cofounders Emily Shippee and Adi-Lee Cohen had in mind. “When I started speaking to Adi about inclusivity and the designs, we wanted to make sure we included women who need to cover their hair and do so comfortably,” explained Shippee via email. “Of course, nobody was better for that than Halima, because she used to clean hospital rooms when she first started working and had valuable, firsthand experiences.”

Aden’s days at the St. Cloud Hospital in Minnesota are more than just a footnote to her high-fashion Cinderella story. As a housekeeper, she learned the ins and outs of sanitising and sterilising patient rooms. “You need to rely on the doctors, LPNs, and nurses but also the housekeepers and cleaning staff,” shared Aden on the phone from her hometown of St. Cloud. “We do a huge part in keeping patients healthy.” Proper mask usage is part of that task. During her time in healthcare, Aden experienced what it was like to wear them beneath her hijab. “Early on, I understood the importance of wearing that extra protective gear, whether it was the gloves or the personal protection equipment, so when Covid-19 happened, and there were so many shortages, I felt such sympathy. I struggled with my scarf and having to pin it,” she says. “I can remember wishing that there was a way for the hijab to be a part of the uniform instead of me having to go and match the fabric and never be able to find scarf options to go with my scrubs.”

For her collection, Aden designed the kinds of pieces she’d always been looking for. Offered in a range of tranquil colours, her turbans and hijabs integrate seamlessly into a uniform. Best of all, each purchase comes with a matching donation to provide PPE for those in need. “I wanted something that would bring joy to the patients and the healthcare workers,” she says. “When it came time to design the sets, I chose shades that I associate with peace instead of the standard white; colours that just made me feel good looking at them.” Ease of wear was also essential. “This is giving people the tools to feel comfortable and do their job to the best of their ability,” she says. “There are so many hijabi women working in healthcare, and their comfort is as important as anyone else’s in the workforce.”

With Aden in Minnesota and the Anywear team spread out between New York and Tel Aviv, the project came together via video conferencing. “Everything happened so quickly. We hopped on a Zoom session and just talked it out. Then they did a beautiful job of shipping the samples immediately,” says Aden. “I took a screengrab and texted it to my brother so he could show my mom. Then I was calling my cousin who worked with me at St. Cloud, and was the person who originally got me the job! Creating these has been such an honour and a full-circle moment.”

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the fashion community has responded with creativity and solidarity – the Anywear capsule is an example of both principles. The Covid-19 era has taught the industry plenty of lessons, but Shippee and Aden hope that the changes brought about over the last few months have a long-term impact. “Right now, we’re collectively experiencing the fear of lost livelihoods, losing jobs, and being uncertain about our health. Those are all emotions refugees face daily,” says Aden. “My ultimate hope is that we all recognise that we’re human at the end of the day. This project is about spotlighting healthcare professionals, but so many groups are banding together to fight this. I’m so grateful the real heroes are finally getting the attention they deserve.”