Science with fashion produce fun protective masks

Gary Duncan of Washington, NC, is producing protective masks imprinted with microscopic images of cells and single cell organisms.

"I'm a scientist that's mutated into a fashion designer," Duncan said.

Through his company, Science Learning Resources, Duncan produces the images from a high-powered microscope for use in community college classes across the state.

"I was thinking what can I do with these images to get them out of the computer," said Duncan. "And then I had the idea of what if I put these beautiful microscopic images on fabric?"

Linda Schramm, who also lives in Washington, sews the fabric into a variety of clothing items.

Duncan added, "I put my images on leggings and capris and skirts, underwear, recently underwear."

The clothing line is called BioWild Designs. Duncan sells most of the clothes on Etsy.

"I'm not really making a living on this stuff, but I'm having a lot of fun," he said.

When the pandemic hit, Duncan had an idea. "I could put my BioWild images on masks and we would have a very fashionable mask to walk around with."

They're not medical grade masks, but Duncan said they do offer a lot of protection against the coronavirus. He hopes his fun designs will encourage people to wear them.

"In this day and time, if we have a little more playfulness in our life, that's really a good thing," he said.

Duncan is starting off by giving the masks away to friends and others who need them, but hopes to eventually sell them online for less than $10 each.