Dancewear manufacturers know how to make apparel that fits perfectly, so it's no surprise that several of our brands switched gears to help keep humans safe during a crisis.

Local dancewear shops find have expertise in athletic performance fabrics, keen eye for perfect fit, close connections to dancewear manufacturers and the ability to reach their local community. In these strange times, it is this perfect storm that finds dancewear shops becoming temporary personal protective equipment suppliers.

We look forward to future days when we won't need to stock this item and we can focus on the product lines we are truly passionate about. Until then, these masks are good quality items we can offer our customers to help keep the lights on.

Until safer times, we will have some face masks in stock from some of our favorite dancewear manufacturers. You can find our selection here.

Consumer Reports has some good tips for selecting a good cloth face mask:

Social Distancing is Still #1: A mask will not protect you from the virus. A mask has been shown to help someone who has the virus from spreading the virus, but it is not foolproof. The best option to stay safe is social distancing.
Layer Up: Multiple layers are better than one, says Richard Wenzel, M.D., infectious diseases epidemiologist and emeritus professor of internal medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond. More layers means less chance that viral particles will be able to pass through.
Add a Filter: You might also want to add a middle layer, such as a coffee filter, which can make your mask more effective, says Susan Sokolowski, Ph.D., director of the sports product design master’s degree program at the University of Oregon in Eugene. You can also use the liner of a vacuum bag or even paper towels.
Consider the Fabric: Tea towels, antimicrobial pillowcases, and cotton-blend fabrics were found to be more effective at filtering out small particles than 100 percent cotton T-shirt fabric, a scarf, and silk, in a 2013 study published in 2013 in the journal Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness.
Fabric Function: You might want to use different fabrics for different layers of the mask, Sokolowski says. For the layer that will sit directly against your mouth, she suggests a comfortable, washable, tightly knitted fabric, such as polyester, nylon, or a spandex-cotton blend—think athletic clothes. This kind of fabric wicks away the moisture from your breath.
Ensure a Good Fit: A mask should fully cover your nose and mouth, extending an inch or more past the ends of your mouth and wrapping under to “grab onto the bottom of your chin as an anchor,” Solokowski says. According to the CDC, it should fit snugly but comfortably against the sides of your face and should not interfere with breathing. If your face covering gaps on the sides while tied on, you can close the gap by adding a stitch to create a dart.
Beware of Inferior Products: Not all masks are created equal and there are unscrupulous people trying to take advantage of this crisis. This is not the time to take a chance on a cheap alternative. Purchase masks from reputable businesses.
Leave the Medical Masks for Healthcare Workers: Our healthcare workers need the N95 respirators and surgical masks. Spend your money on a good quality, washable mask.

Face Masks

made and sold by dancewear companies