CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Protecting people from COVID-19 while adding some fun, and it's Made in Chicago.
Jake Nickell is the founder and CEO of Threadless, which gives artists a chance to create designs and sell them for use on a variety of products.
"We print their art on like t-shirts and iPhone cases, stuff like that. A lot of our artist community were reaching out to us wanting to design face masks, and some of our suppliers started to transition to make them. So, kind of put two and two together and made it happen," Nickell said.
At first Nickell said Threadless was reluctant to sell designer face masks.
"Because we didn't want people to purchase masks, when the front line workers need them," Nickell said.
So, Threadless decided to sell designer cloth face coverings instead.
"By creating more like a fashion cloth mask, people are purchasing those instead of the medical grade masks that people on the front lines really need," Nickell added.
Threadless then decided to donate proceeds from the face coverings to MedShare, a non-profit that provides supplies and equipment to medical volunteers, hospitals and clinics.
"The first $100,000 we donated 100 percent of our net proceeds, and now we're continuing to donate up to $250,000," Nickell explained.
Nickell said Threadless has achieved three things.
"We figured that we can help front line workers get access to PPE. This really helps artists be able to use their creativity to put some joy out in the world, and helps us all to have fun masks to wear and express our personality when we're out on the street having to wear a mask," Nickell said.
It's Made in Chicago.