Fashion/ 04/03/2022/

Things We’re Lovin’ – Masked Voices Masks – AND GIVEAWAY

Kiwi music stars unite to help industry professionals impact by ongoing Covid-19 event cancellations

The last 18 months have been a rollercoaster for the entire world. The advent of Covid-19 and subsequent lockdowns has resulted in a vast amount of rescheduling and cancellation in the events and entertainment industry.

After two decades working in the events and entertainment industry, Sarah Lewis’s events agency, suddenly had months of cancelled events leaving her to explore not only a new career, but with an appetite to help colleagues and friends also affected by the cancellation of gigs and events

‘’Masked Voices came to me as a Eureka moment when thinking about how to stay busy and help friends in the music industry’ Lewis said. “I realised face masks were developing as a new fashion category, one likely to remain in everyday use for some time to come so it seemed like a logical business to develop.”

Masked Voices is a social enterprise in collaboration with MusicHelps, a charitable organisation that serves many functions including assisting those in the NZ music community when crisis strikes.

MusicHelps provides assistance to industry professionals through a Benevolent Fund and a professional wellbeing and counselling service to kiwi music people from all parts of the music industry who are experiencing illness, distress and hardship.

Lewis approached a group of artists from a wide spectrum of musical genres, inviting them to contribute a mask design to be sold and marketed with all profits going to Music Helps.

‘’Í had a wish-list of great artists and was thrilled when everyone said yes!!! At the end of the day the events and entertainment industry is comprised of so much more than the people you see centre-stage. It is the roadies, production specialists, sound engineers, marquee companies…and without these people there would be no show!’’

The artists involved in the project include rock legends, Shihad, EDM and roots superstar Tiki Taane, internationally acclaimed MC Tali, NZ music royalty, Peter Urlich and recent winner of the Waiata Best Maori Wahine Solo artists, Paige.

All of the designs represent symbolism that is supplied by the artists themselves representing symbolism that has relevance to the Covid-19 lockdowns.

They feature on masks created by NZ mask supplier Queen of the Foxes. Lewis approached the owner of the brand Lindi Kingi after purchasing one of her masks online. ‘the masks are just so soft, durable and kind to the skin as well as being washable so it was a no brainer when choosing a mask partner to work with and it worked out perfectly that we both live in the Bay of Plenty!’’

The designs are limited edition with 1000 of each being made available. Masks can be purchased online at www.maskedvoices.co.nz