Wearing a mask has become the norm of the day, especially during this pandemic. There are 'n' number of masks out there. One mask that stood out for us was Yogi. And why it's interesting, and maybe even a cut above the rest, is because of its silicone seal. Now if you have worn a mask, you know how it can get loose, especially below the chin, and has gaps through which unfiltered air could get in. Yogi's soft silicone seal will conform to your face in a way that prevents any air leak. Then there is the filtration media stack giving it a high Viral Filtration Efficiency (VFE) as per third party labs who have tested it. Which basically means, it has a three-stack filtration system which keeps both pollution and virus outside. How cool is that?
Meet and greet
Going by the technology of the mask, it is easy to guess that the brains behind the mask is well-versed with how a mask ought to be. Meet Ramaseshu Botu, a 34-year-old from Visakhapatnam who not only has a Master's in Environmental Health and Occupational Safety from the University of Texas, but has worked for corporates like US-based MNC Halliburton where he served as Environment, Health and Safety Specialist and a part of his job role was helping workers with respirators. The Srikakulam-born safety expert came back to Vizag in 2014, got in touch with India again by visiting various places like Bengaluru, New Delhi, Coimbatore and more, and realised that pollution continues to be a persistent problem everywhere. "3M and Venus are the popular suppliers of masks, but in terms of technology, they haven't changed much over the years," says the youngster. So, he decided to enter the market in 2016 and founded Gills Masks.
Here he comes
Having developed eight designs and over 30 prototypes, Ramaseshu even had their own kiosk at The Great India Place in Noida and a small store in Gopalan Signature Mall. They sold over 25,000 masks but had to shut shop last year in April because business was seasonal, peaking in high-pollution periods like Diwali, and the footfall in the malls was also low.
But this is about last April, this April, Ramaseshu is ready to launch Yogi and if you want early bird access and great deals, you can sign up for it! "Awareness about masks is higher in the west than here. But events like the Australian Bushfires and now this pandemic is making people realise the importance of it. Which is why we resumed trials of the Yogi mask last year and are now planning to launch it mid or late April," he shares. But he still feels like it will take a while for Indians to really use masks in their day-to-day life.
Apart from the most advanced filtration stack, the mask also comes with hidden ear loops for a better fit that aids the grip of silicone. They are even offering a propertied disinfectant so that you don't have to wash the mask, which itself has a shelf-life of six years. It also comes in a pouch. Beat that!
To know more about them, check out bit.ly/3aBl0pP
