Tiffany S. Walker, founder and owner of the couture fashion brand Pink Lucy, is doing her part in the battle against the spread of the coronavirus. Her company is donating twenty-eight facemask to first responders and the elderly for every single mask sold.
You successfully launched an affordable couture fashion house; how did Pink Lucy first begin?
I started Pink Lucy for the woman that wants to stand out in the crowd. I have been designing since the age of 13 and I always wanted to be true to my design aesthetic – fashion forward and memorable, showing up and showing out. However, there was a void — affordable luxury for everybody! Any body-type, whether a size 2 or 22, can find something at Pink Lucy.
With everything going on with coronavirus pandemic, what steps are you taking to protect yourself and those you love?
We enforce proper sanitation, constantly washing our hands, and not allowing clients in our showroom.
Share with us what motivated you to launch your recent facemask initiative including the giveaway.
My mother passed away of Lupus as autoimmune disease and my sister has lupus as well. I was always aware of the risks associated with a low immune system. My mother stressed the importance of always wiping down surfaces and properly washing our hands. This has been imbedded in me and I never wanted to put my mother or sister at risk due to my own negligence. When this pandemic arose, I thought about what my mother and God would expect of me and I proudly took my call of duty and offered my services and talent.
These masks are not of the N95 type, but they are still beneficial to our readership. Tell us some of the ways they will help frontline workers and the elderly?
The masks offer a barrier of protection because they naturally have a filtering system. Our masks are 100% cotton unless they are a “fashion mask” and both styles have filter pockets for a filter to be inserted. We provide filters and you can select one that you are comfortable with. Additionally, they serve as reminder for not put your hands on your face. The average person touches their face 2,000 times a day.
As a fan of the adage “To whom much is given, much is required,” do you believe that everyone should do our part in service of others?
This adage has been instilled in me by my late mother, the person that has been the biggest inspiration in my life and my biggest supporter. We all have an obligation to humanity to help mankind. God uses others to bless us. Therefore, it is our responsibility to help when we are able. We can’t just take. We have to give.
Your giveaway is quite generous, do you have a target goal in mind as far as units?
Yes, it is! However, I employ four seamstresses and have four contract seamstresses – with the ability to obtain more. This is a labor of love and it has become my ministry. For that alone, I am willing to do whatever it takes to make a difference. My goal is to produce 5,000 masks. We have the ability to make 300-350 masks per day. The associated press just released an article recommending all Americans wear them. So, we have created a completely different website masqueon.com that is strictly dedicated to masks. It will be live the week of April 6th but, until then you can still purchase them at shoppinklucy.com.
What would you say should be most important lesson we should learn from this tragic experience?
The most important lesson is to value life and to slow down to truly enjoy it with the people that you hold near and dear to your heart. As a spiritual person and a believer — I believe that God needed for get our attention and make us focus on the things that matter most. This pandemic has leveled the playing field. It has no regard for social status, wealth, race, or titles. COVID-19 has become the great equalizer. We are equal and it’s time for us to take care of each other and heal!
BE’N ORIGINAL
