Social enterprise Friendly Face Masks (FFM), pioneered by engineer and founder Sonia Carley, has announced that they are now able to mass-produce and deliver their latest, improved facemask design Friendly Face Masks Poly Mask.  The mask will help public-facing organisations and businesses around the world improve accessibility for users during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, and especially the hard of hearing.

The new mask that will be mass-produced by FFM is an improved version to predecessor products and will be made from polypropylene. Polypropylene masks offer more advantages than competitor materials as they improve breathability and are more lightweight, as well as being machine-washable, reusable, and splash-proof.

Thanks to the lighter material, the new FFM Poly Mask features a larger lipreading window, which makes it even more accessible than ever for deaf, hard-of-hearing users, and those that they need to communicate with.

Upon its initial release and delivery to various sectors, the new FFM Poly Mask will be available in the one shade of black and three adult sizes. However, FFM is confident that the line will be expanded in due course, promising new colours and sizes to accommodate different adult shapes of face.

On creating this refined lipreading face mask, founder Sonia Carley said, "I experimented with the polypropylene and found that it was much better. I've gone through four or five different construction methods of the mask and tried hundreds of materials, and the polypropylene always came out on top. Therefore, I am now confident that the masks are ready to be mass-manufactured and stocked by many organisations that face the public. Also, I now have a vast amount of experience in understanding the masks' tolerances to the millimetre, which means that I know when I mass-manufacture them there will be no unforeseen errors.”

Despite being active for less than a year, FFM has already seen many impressive achievements. This includes supplying to many of the world's most influential countries, such as the USA, Canada, France, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Hungary, and the UAE - as well as the UK.

Worldwide companies such as Warner Brothers Studios, and local businesses and organisations such as the Kent Deaf Children's Society, National Council for Special Education, and Small Steps Big Changes, are just a few of the many that have benefitted from FFM's accessible, inclusive face mask range.

Speaking of FFM's humble origins, Sonia says, "I was inspired to start Friendly Face Masks by a local request for a lipreading-friendly mask. Though I've never even used a sewing machine before, I decided to draw upon my skills and past experience as an engineer to draw up and eventually produce a complex design that is suitable for both lipreading and use with hearing aids. So, I'm really proud that Friendly Face Masks has become the first lipreading and hearing aid face mask to become widely available in the UK and across the globe.”

Following a BBC interview, Sonia began receiving more than 500 emails a week requesting her products. On this feat, she continued, "It was at this point that I realised the extent of this issue. It wasn't just the deaf and hard-of-hearing that needed these masks - it was everyone around them that they need to communicate with. It was children whose only physical indicator of these troubling times was an alien population where smiles were hidden behind faceless masks. It was also the elderly population, particularly those with Alzheimer's, that were thinking someone was breaking into their home to hurt them because they couldn't even see a smile."

FFM will be approaching any public-facing organisation about the stocking of their trademark FFM Poly Mask. This includes shops, public transport, hospitals, and restaurants. If you would like to get in touch with FFM regarding an order for the new and improved polypropylene face masks lipreading users can rely on, you can get in touch via any of the below channels of communication:

For PR interviews with Sonia Carley and photos please contact PR@redheadPR.co.uk

To purchase the masks go to https://www.friendlyfacemasks.co.uk/

Facebook - @friendlyfacemasks

Email - enquiries@friendlyfacemasks.co.uk

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For more info, interviews etc email pr@redheadpr.co.uk