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<\/p>\nWhen the COVID-19 pandemic first hit Canada, Berna Demiryol\u2019s biggest concern was the wellbeing of her two teenage kids. \u201cAt first we were in a state of denial and could not comprehend that our lives would be put on hold like this. Our family was a busy family. Both of my kids were in competitive sports. Our weekdays were busy with practices and weekends on tournaments. Then suddenly everything stopped,\u201d Demiryol says.<\/p>\n
Soon after, face masks were mandated in places like malls and grocery stores, and now at schools \u2013 any indoor environment where social distancing is unavoidable. This posed a concern for Demiryol. Her son suffers from an intolerance to certain fabrics, chemicals or dyes and keeping a mask on for long periods of time causes him extreme discomfort.<\/p>\n
That led to a lightbulb moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son has been extremely sensitive to certain fabrics and smells since his infancy. I was worried that he would not be able to wear a mask even for a short time if there were dyes or smells that bothered him. That was something I wanted to address\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
Demiryol launched her business Proteq, in part due to her background as an industrial engineer – she finds solutions to challenging problems. Proteq specializes in creating cloth face masks for those with sensitivities, including children and teens. The masks received the infant-grade certification from OEKO-TEX \u2013 the highest assurance that the fabrics are free from harmful chemicals.<\/p>\n
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Demiryol adds that in addition to being certified as infant-grade, another factor for her brand to stand out is the ionized silver yarn, which makes the masks antimicrobial. She says the yarn in the fabric is intertwined with the silver ions, attracting and subsequently neutralizing microbes. \u201cIt is a much better technology than simply coating the fabric with silver ions,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n
Originally from Turkey, Demiryol notes that the country is known for its state-of-the-art textile industry. It\u2019s why she did not look for another place to manufacture the masks. \u201cTurkey is a textile hub\u200a\u2014\u200ait\u2019s known for its cutting-edge technology and innovation in textiles,\u201d she says. The manufacturer she collaborates with runs a research and testing facility that actively searches for antimicrobial and clean technologies, Demiryol says.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe inspiration for this project was my son and I am sure there are so many other families with similar concerns; or those looking for chemical-free, antimicrobial products for their kids. As our kids are going back to school, we want solid protection for them, without exposing them to harmful substances, which might be present in the dyes. After all, we want them to wear these masks for six hours a day. Therefore, these masks need to be chemical-free, antimicrobial, breathable, and lightweight,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n
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