Austin Firm Churns Out Masks In Vibrant Colors Amid Coronavirus

AUSTIN, TX — Think of mask wearing in these challenging times not only as a gesture of kindness and respect for others, but as a fashion statement. That's essentially the message behind a new launch of protective face coverings in an array of colors being churned out by Austin-based manufacturer Armbrust American.

As demand rises for face masks amid ongoing reach of the coronavirus — particularly given their status as veritable passports enabling entry into grocery stores and other retail outlets — Armbrust American now is offering a new line of FDA-registered surgical masks available in six vibrant colors.

Because the standard 'medical blue' or aqua green surgical masks are so late 2019, the local company is offering a rainbow of options. New colors include "Creamsicle," "Coral," "Sea Foam," "American Denim," "Pretty In Pink," and "Charcoal." Not just pretty, the masks have the same 98 percent effectiveness rating for blocking particulate matter — such as the novel coronavirus —while allowing for a greater degree of self-expression given the color-filled pallet of options.

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"People in the mask world thought I was crazy for making lab-tested surgical masks in cool colors instead of the usual 'medical blue' or aqua green, but it makes too much sense not to," founder and CEO Lloyd Armbrust said in a prepared statement. "Now there's a safer, more effective option for people wearing cloth masks that match their favorite sports team or school colors, or businesses to replace workers' cloth face coverings with surgical masks matching the brand identity."

The new mask color options are available for pre-order immediately, with delivery dates in the next two weeks, company officials said. Company officials said the firm is currently selling packs of 10 to determine which colors get the most traction, with plans to offer larger bundles of the most popular colors.

The color mask multi-pack is $39.90,which includes 10 masks of each new color for a total of 50 masks. For individual pricing, click here.

Research backed by the Center for Disease Control now shows that wearing masks can drastically reduce the spread of COVID-19 across the country, with surgical masks being more effective than cloth. However, getting the majority of people in the U.S. to wear them has proved challenging, which is one area American manufacturing can help correct, Armbrust noted.

"The advantage of American manufacturing is being able to understand the market and make changes to your products quickly," the CEO said. "Since most masks are made in China and sold to resellers, it probably doesn't make financial sense to offer more than one ugly color. If adding new color options gets more people wearing masks, then it becomes more than just a cosmetic change, not to mention a true testament to the need for strategic manufacturing to return to the U.S."

Armbrust American first caught the attention of Patch in early July when it secured $3.8 million in state funding to supply protective face coverings to the state's 320,000-plus public school teachers amid the coronavirus. The aim of the distribution was to end reliance on a global supply chain for PPE (personal protective equipment) at higher costs in favor of a focus on domestic manufacturing, company officials explained at the time.

Related story: Austin Plant Churns Out Face Masks For Texas Teachers

And with the vast majority of surgical masks being manufactured out of China, state governments have had the added the burden of determining if those masks meet adequate quality and safety standards, officials added. Combined with recent reports that non-medical masks from China are being repackaged and sent to essential workers, officials added, having trusted American-made PPE has never been more important.

About Armbrust American

Armbrust American's mission is to bring strategic manufacturing back to the U.S. Founded in 2020 by Y-Combinator alumni Lloyd Armbrust, the company currently operates a factory out of Austin, Texas utilizing proprietary mix of materials and manufacturing innovation to provide the highest quality PPE at a competitive cost. Lloyd was previously the founder and CEO of OwnLocal, a company that automates production for 3,500 newspapers worldwide.