Making masks at home has become a valuable skill, and it is one that rising Rock Ridge High School seniors, Elie and Sophia Clarke, continue to master during their summer break.
The twin sisters have been sewing cotton masks since March. They say they “felt helpless watching the sad news on TV day after day” regarding the Covid-19 pandemic, and swiftly jumped into action to do their part.
They combined their entrepreneurial skills acquired over the years from participating in DECA, a nationally recognized business club, and a passion for volunteering to successfully launch their mask making business Hopes & Seams.
“We have always volunteered our time to Toys for Tots and Mobile Hope and it just made sense to continue to give back to the community,” the sisters said.
For every mask purchased, one mask is donated within the community. The teenagers have donated masks to Mobile Hope, HealthWorks for Northern Virginia and Schar Cancer Institute, to name a few.
The Clarke sisters have even made cow fabric masks for Chick-fil-A restaurants in Loudoun County and two in South Carolina. They have also supplied non-disposable masks to NVO Orthodontics in Ashburn.
Hopes & Seams is continuing to evolve. The sisters recently made logo masks for Loudoun schools and are designing masks for interpreters to read lips.
“We also now have the ability to create logo masks for businesses that are polyester, light-weight, have a nose wire, comfortable, breathable and have a pocket for a filter,” they said.
Elie and Sophia learned to sew from their grandmother, who also helps sew the masks. Two interns are also assisting with the production of masks at their home in Ashburn.
The sisters say sewing masks is therapeutic and that they take pride in helping to flatten the curve one mask at a time.
To learn more, visit Hopes & Seams on Facebook and on Instagram.
