Smog masks make a colorful fashion statement in China

World Today

Smog is shrouding northern and eastern China, and face masks can be seen everywhere.

But instead of coming in just plain white, grey or black, some masks are bringing color to a smoggy day.

CGTN’s Martina Fuchs reports.

Follow Martina Fuchs on Twitter @Martina_CCTV

Chinese designer Wang Zhijun recently produced a face mask made from an Adidas sneaker designed by Kanye West.

Wang put the mask up for sale on eBay China in October, drawing a bid of more than $5,000.

He has since made around 20 unique smog masks out of expensive sport shoes, such as Nike, Adidas, and New Balance.

Wang also wants to raise awareness about environmental issues.

“One evening, I was jogging in a park and all of a sudden got the idea, why do I not use my own running shoes and the material to produce a mask. So far, I haven’t yet decided whether or not to sell the products, it is still in the experimental phase,” he said.

Anti-pollution masks have become a fashion accessory. People can mix and match them with their daily outfits. The masks are even moving from functional wear to the catwalks.

Lately, the masks have shown up on runways, from Paris to Hong Kong.

Swedish company Airinum has teamed up with clothing designers to produce both functional and fashionable 3-D masks. They combine high-end filtering technology with a universal fit.

Vogmask in California claims to be the first to market fashionable face masks. The company offers fully washable and reusable devices in a variety of styles and colors.