Meet Saskia of "Mask Yo Face"
Hello, my name is Saskia, I’m a 20 year old from London, England! I’m currently in my final year of University.
How long have you been sewing for?
I actually taught myself how to sew during the first Lockdown in March 2020 and after a few
months of practice, I decided to launch my business in May!
Was anyone in your family or friend group affected by covid?
I actually got it at university and luckily did not suffer too severely. I have been super grateful
that none of my family or friends have been badly effected by it.
What made you want to start selling masks?
For the last 2-3 years, I have made a conscious effort to cut back on fast-fashion consumption. Therefore, I was disheartened by the large amount of disposable face masks that were being littered on the street and in the ocean. I wanted to find a solution to this by producing both a sustainable and stylish alternative!
How many people work on maskyoface?
At the moment, it is just me! I hand make all the masks on my sewing machine. Although, I have had a lot of help from my sister who designed my logo.
What have you learned from having an online business?
Having an online business had definitely made me realise how much work needs to be injected into it for it to succeed. I love the accessibility of my business being online and really enjoy connecting with my customers through Instagram, so that is a massive positive!
What tips do you have for someone wanting to start selling their work online?
My top tip is to not rush into anything. I often get really excited about a new product I am
releasing and want to release it right away. However, I have learnt that it is important to spend time on organizing a launch so that it can it all run smoothly.
In what ways do you feel like you have changed in 2020?
As someone who has always lacked confidence in the things I do, 2020 has for sure taught me to be proud and confident in myself and my business. 2020 has definitely shown me how precious life is, making me appreciate how important the people around me are.
What is special about the masks that you make?
My masks are completely handmade so each one is made with a lot of love and care. I make my masks with 100% Silk or Cotton from Liberty London, a beautiful luxury Victorian department store in the heart of London. While a lot of other businesses label their masks as silk, they may not always be entirely Silk and can be composed of different cheaper materials. However, I can guarantee that the Silk I use is pure, which gives a lightweight feel when wearing it.
What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome in starting your business?
I luckily have not experienced too many challenges, although, being a student has sometimes made it tricky balancing my university work and orders, especially at the start. I have overtime learnt how to manage both, which has for sure, helped my organizational skills.
Do you make anything else beside masks?
I make scrunchies too! As well as this, I have made bespoke tops in the past and am keen to
bring some out in the future. From time to time, I sell unique headbands on my Instagram story, made from offcuts from my previous sold out collections.
Where can our readers order your masks from?
You can order masks from www.maskyoface.co.uk and I also stock on https://thepopupgirlsshop.com website
What do you hope the future holds for maskyoface?
I hope for people to stay safe and protect themselves with Mask Yo Face!
You can find me on Instagram: @maskyoface