Strategy June 09, 2020
100% Made in USA, Dotted Line MFG Turns to Science to Fight COVID-19
In the race to design a face mask that kills the coronavirus upon contact, innovation in materials science could be our best bet to fight the global pandemic until a vaccine is released. Could copper-infused face masks be the key to keeping us safe?
Nowadays, face masks are as commonplace in our daily tradition as carrying house keys or pocketing your cell phone, and the CDC recommends we never leave home without one. Masks save lives.
Since the first days of the coronavirus outbreak, there has been a mad dash around the world to get lifesaving PPE (personal protective equipment) into the hands of front-line medical workers, essential workers and the general public. As the economy reopens, the need for high-quality protective face masks for employees going back to work and individuals venturing out into the world has never been greater.
Los Angeles-based Dotted Line Manufacturing has taken action in response. As a leader in face protection manufacturing, CEO and Founder Jon Dadon has doubled his firm’s investment in cutting-edge product lines to fight back against this global pandemic. Working with some of the most advanced material scientists producing fabric technology for the PPE space, Dotted Line is now offering fabric masks and neck gaiters infused with scientifically proven antimicrobial, virus-killing materials to keep people safe.
Antimicrobial/Antiviral Infused Masks
The entire operation has evolved to manufacture face protection infused with copper and silver ions, adopting life-saving technology originally developed for the medical industry. The antimicrobial fabric has been clinically tested and shown to kill 99.9% of microbes, including viruses, bacteria, mold and fungus. Scientific research has shown that bacteria and viruses that land on metallic copper surfaces are destroyed upon contact. In fact, a recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that copper can inactivate a high concentration of the novel coronavirus within four hours.
100% American Made
“You may not care about where your product comes from, but we do,” says Dadon. Adhering to his strong belief in supporting American workers throughout the entire supply chain, Dotted Line’s products are handcrafted in the USA. “By Americans and for Americans,” Dadon says, “from the yarn used to make the fabric, to cutting, printing and sewing.” The product is price competitive, engineered with a focus on comfort and usability. The mask design infuses copper and silver treatment directly into the polyester fabric, maintaining a light and breathable feeling on the face.
Moisture Management/Sun Protection
As the summer heats up, the mask’s fabric wicks away moisture from the body, keeping it dry and cool even in the hottest conditions. The odor-absorbent fabric also guards against harmful UV rays with UPF50 sun protection. When compared to similar products in the industry, the differences are staggering. Dotted Line masks repel viral droplets from the outer layer, while many cloth masks in the market may inadvertently absorb viral droplets into the fabric, putting the wearer at risk.
Dotted Line made a bold decision to release the new product line at the same pricing as its existing suite of face protection. According to Dadon, “Protecting America and its communities are our #1 priority. I’d rather protect my neighbor than make an extra dollar on a face mask. Perhaps now more than ever, our society must work as a team and prioritize what matters most.”
More than a quarter of all coronavirus-related deaths worldwide have been in the United States, with experts predicting a second wave of infections spiking again this fall.
As a potential second wave approaches, the question remains, will buyers make the right choice?