Snü is an infinitely reusable, washable air pollution and virus face covering. It also doubles as a warm, comfortable neckscarf (or snood, or neck gaiter) with a unique fashionable design. 

It’s perfect for cycling, commuting on trains or on the tube (where "tube dust" is a big problem), wearing in crowds when you’re sick – or don’t want to get sick – and even just as an extra layer or warmth on a windy walk.

Its special construction also makes it, in our opinion, the most effective, eco-friendly air pollution, smoke and virus facemask available.

Snü follows the principle that wearable, washable and long-lasting high quality, ethically made, multi-use fashion is the most sustainable choice.

Sustainable, slow fashion vs fast fashion and the war on waste

Disposable facemasks (or replaceable filters) are now known as much for their massive contribution to plastic pollution as their ability to protect people from Covid.

The fashion industry in general has huge problems with overuse of synthetics, water pollution and waste dumping. More than half of all clothes produced each year contain plastic.

That’s why every single component of Snü was carefully selected for its eco-credentials, performance and longevity. The nature-inspired designs are even printed digitally, meaning less water and ink is used in the process. The colours are more vivid too!

Sustainable fashion is a tricky business. Most of us are used to super cheap £5 T-shirts and throwaway clothes, and many people can't pay top prices for the most eco-friendly, fairtrade clothes.

But making something so important for health, that needs to be washable and non-toxic, simply cannot fit a fast fashion model. Anything you put on your face for the purpose of protection should be made from the most considered materials. And that's what we did with Snü.

3-layer face covering: organic cotton, N95 mask filter (FFP2-equivalent), breathable mesh

Just as a reminder, this is what Snü is made from, and what makes it so eco-friendly:

The outer snood is digitally-printed GOTS-certified organic cotton, with 5% elastane for light stretch. Organic cotton is grown, harvested and processed without the use of genetically modified seeds, toxic chemical fertilisers and pesticides or processing chemicals. Result.

Digital printing virtually eliminates water usage, minimising energy use as well. It also uses 10% of the ink of screen printing, minimising noxious chemical effluents. Pretty important if you’re putting it on your face!

The nanofibre filter is meltspun nonwoven polypropylene. It’s top of its class for social and non-medical/industrial face coverings. Read more about the science of the nanofibre filter on the Protection page.

The inner mesh is anti-bacterial, anti-odor, quick drying recycled PET-bottle polyester. Again, a useful set of attributes, enabling long use with ultimate comfort. It really works – this fabric is what keeps your mask fresh for many wears. (This has been vigorously tested over years now – because who needs more laundry?!)

The recycled element means no virgin polyester was used in its creation. There’s way too much brand-new plastic textiles in clothing already!

Snü prefers to minimise the use of synthetic fibres wherever possible, but this high-tech fabric is just not made from natural fibres yet. The search continues!

The trims – such as the toggle, nose clip and memory foam padding – are also as eco-friendly as possible. 

This combination of fabrics and materials plus its unique shape and design make Snü the most breathable and comfortable air pollution and virus mask you can buy. (Trust me, I have tried them all! Well, at least the ones I was willing to wear out in public.)

And of course, Snü comes in plastic-free packaging (you won't receive one in a jiffy bag through the post), sealed for hygiene and with cute compostable seedcard with extra protection and wear and care instructions.

Ethical manufacturing in good conditions is a benchmark of quality

As a completely new kind of garment, with unique printing and designs, both the printing process and manufacturing have to be extremely precise.

To minimise wastage, each Snü is printed to exact measurements, and has to be cut along those very specific lines, meaning great care and attention by its makers.

Snü will never be made in a fast fashion, low price-per-item environment where workers are pushed to make ever higher quantities for rock-bottom prices.

It's always worth remembering that *all* articles of clothing are handmade, piece by piece – even if some elements use bulk-processing (like cutting) – and Snü especially so.

Paying well for good quality workmanship (workwomanship? workpersonship?) is a non-negotiable element of Snü.

A reusable face covering for filtering particles dangerous to health

Snü was developed by an environmental researcher (me) with many years of researching air pollution’s impact on public health. And air pollution continues apace – and is as varied as can be.

For example, microplastic particles now float everywhere in the sea and air, and they have even been found in Arctic snow!

The environment is getting more and more polluted as we continue to increase traffic on the roads. Of course this also contributes to climate change, meaning more weird weather, including floods, heatwaves and wildfires.

Wildfire smoke, like vehicle air pollution, is also showing to be devastating for people’s health. Thankfully, Snü is effective in staving off the worst of such effects.

The fight for clean air – and clean fashion – continues

Snü will continue to create new lines of masks for all seasons and ages, in vibrant colours and designs. And all from the most sustainable, recycled and recyclable raw materials available. This will be especially important when we make our first mini-Snü for little people!

As our era of weird weather, new viruses and wildfires shows, sustainability isn’t just about the planet, but people’s health too. With pollution from just about everything we buy, use and dispose of, it's worth making fashion as eco-friendly as possible. Eco-friendly is health friendly.

Fortunately, there's no need to compromise on facemask protection through using disposable masks anymore! Snü hopes to marks turning point in sustainable, fashionable – and extremely effective – N99 face coverings.