Alumni

Grad's Glam Mask Collection Featured in South China Morning Post

The South China Morning Post recently featured FIDM Graduate and former Miss San Francisco Carol Chen, the entrepreneur behind Maskela, a glamorous collection of face masks and chains that will be sold at Neiman Marcus beginning this month. Prior to the pandemic, Carol was running the designer gown rental service, Covetella, but quickly pivoted her business with the arrival of Covid-19. 

After being snubbed at a private club for wearing a medical mask, Carol took a pair of scissors to a damaged red sequined gown, creating her first fashion forward mask in the process. “People loved it,” Carol said. “This was at a time when masks weren’t even mandatory, so the idea of making a high-end mask was crazy. I did think, ‘Who’s going to wear this?’”

Today, Maskela masks are available in dozens of styles, ranging from hot pink satin to turquoise brocade, and start at $25. There are also bridal masks for socially distant weddings and limited editions made from cuts of fabric. Maskela has even found its way to stars such as Sarah Jessica Parker and Chrishell Stause.

Born in Colorado to Taiwanese immigrants, Carol was raised in Dallas, Texas and studied Fashion Design at FIDM San Francisco before moving to Los Angeles to start a fashion label. Eventually, Carol moved to Asia and ran a clothing factory in Dongguan, China. For the last six years, she’s called Singapore home, but with the success of Maskela, Carol has returned to Dallas, where she is now based. 

Learn more at maskela.com and on Instagram @maskelalife. 

Categories:  Fashion Design Alumni