- Three Northerners make models of masks decorated with Caudry lace.
- This lace, known worldwide, allows to offer a high-end product.
- Faced with the craze, other models will be launched, including one for men.
Masked and stylish. With the coronavirus epidemic, masks are now part of the panoply necessary when you want to leave your home. This is even more true since the deconfinement, which took place a week ago. Faced with the shortage of disposable paper models, many initiatives have been launched to make reusable cloth masks. But efficiency and practicality often sacrifice design. Piko Piko, a start-up based in Caudry, in the North, has the solution so that we do not all look like dentists while walking in the street.
“On Facebook, I saw a post about masks made in China from bras. This is where I had the idea of making masks with lace, ”recalls Florence Betrerous, an employee at the lace museum in Caudry, in the North. In the process, she spoke to her son, Maxime, who immediately greeted the flash of genius of his mother. "He was thrilled, he told me that we had to find a seamstress, develop a prototype and get started," continues Florence.
"A high-end product and 100% Hauts-de-France"
At the end of April, the mother contacted one of her childhood friends, Brigitte Bouthemy, independent seamstress, who had already engaged in the manufacture of masks to help around her. “We did the prototype together and then we launched the first production of ten masks with a lace band that we already had. Everything went away very quickly, ”assures Florence.
Faced with the craze of the fairer sex for a product sporting a lace known worldwide, mother, son and seamstress have gone into high gear. They got in touch with one of the most recognized lace manufacturers, Solstiss, to supply themselves with raw materials. “They have a very nice design that we wanted to keep for the basic model. The idea is always to offer a high-end product and 100% Hauts-de-France, "insists Florence.
"More than 2,000 masks sold in two weeks"
"We have exploded sales with more than 2,000 masks sold in two weeks," says Maxime for his part. “We were contacted by dentists, lingerie stores. It has become a fashion accessory, ”adds the mother. To keep pace, new seamstresses were contacted.
Piko Piko also intends to expand its offer. Several colors, different lace designs, a summer version and models for men. "We don't know how long we will have to wear masks, but I think it may last," says Florence. So if you have to resign yourself to sporting this new type of clothing, you might as well not make a fashion faux pas. Especially since the product is offered at an affordable price, less than 12 euros for the basic model.
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- Covid 19
- Textile
- Deconfinement
- Coronavirus