Today we’d like to introduce you to Jackie Himelhoch.
Hi Jackie, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory
I have worked in fashion and been a stylist for the past 20 years. My new endeavor is an unexpected result of the current pandemic. I started making masks for family and friends last April and it has snowballed from there. So many people were asking for my masks that I decided to launch a website – annaandm.com. I source high quality combed 100% cotton fabrics and also use designer silk scarves for my masks. All my upcycle masks are cut from designer scarves and each is special – no two are alike. I love sourcing good-looking fabrics but mostly, I love making a quality product that is keeping people safer, that is more comfortable to wear and nice to look at. Since we have to wear a mask, we may as well look good. That is how Anna & M was born.
Lovingly named for my seamstress grandmothers, Anna and Emma, I wish to pay homage to their hard work and talent. Like generations before me, I, too, am now a small business owner, keeping that family tradition alive. Our little online shop launched this past fall. The store is stocked with one-of-a-kind styles and small run designs. We are proud to offer a product that is produced in Southern Florida that is making a difference. How I got started: Starting last Spring, I tried a bazillion masks. The market is overflowing with mediocre, ineffective styles. Every mask I tried was uncomfortable and made talking difficult. After an exhaustive search, I decided to create my own mask. I did my research. I knew what I wanted. After many trials I found the best design. We are about effectiveness, comfort and style. Our masks are 3-layers, made up of natural fabrics and include a filter pocket and nose bridge bar. Anna & M masks adhere to CDC guidelines, are more comfortable and make talking easier. There is less eyeglass fogging and our masks don’t require a constant readjustment. Simply put, our mask is a better mask. We are proud to offer a product that is making a difference. The more people adhere to the CDC recommended mask policy, the sooner we get through this challenging moment in time.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Starting a new business is never easy but when your business is satisfying an urgent need, things fall into place. There is a huge need for masks. Everyone has to wear one when in public. The most difficult obstacle that remains is educating the public. Unlike human beings, all masks are not created equal. Low quality, single layer, polyester masks and gators are ineffective. We need to follow the guidelines set by the CDC. To be effective, a mask has to be multilayered, tightly woven and made from natural fibers like cotton and or silk. It must cover your nose and mouth and not gap. We are averaging over 11,000new covid cases in Florida every day. If people were wearing good quality masks, I truly believe this number would be far less. There would be fewer cases, which means fewer deaths. I am doing what I can to produce an effective product that people will want to wear. That is how I am trying to overcome the public’s resistance to wearing a mask.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
We are Anna & M, mask makers. We create high end, stylish, effective masks. Our masks are 3-layers, made up of natural fabrics and always include a filter pocket and nose bridge bar. Anna & M masks adhere to CDC guidelines, are more comfortable and make talking easier. There is less eyeglass fogging and our masks don’t require a constant readjustment. Simply put, our mask is a better mask. Our business has grown strictly by word of mouth. We have never advertised. We are proud that our customers advertise for us by spreading the word. When people purchase a mask and recommend our masks to their friends, we consider that the biggest compliment. Masks are here to stay for the foreseeable future. We might as well wear something that is not only effective but stylish and comfortable.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
It is not very often that you start a business hoping it won’t last longer than a year. In my case, I am creating a product that is meeting a very serious immediate need, but I hope that need is temporary. I genuinely hope the need exists only through the next year. Even with the vaccine, we need to wear masks. We will need masks on planes and in large groups for the foreseeable future. That said, myhope is that masks will be a thing of the past by 2022.
Pricing:
- Prices start at $24
- Voyage MIA 20% discount code: VoyageMIA
Contact Info:
- Email: assist@annaandm.com
- Website: www.annaandm.com
- Instagram: anna.and.m
- Facebook: Anna & M
