#MAExHauteMod💋 Love Masks
As you can probably imagine when March 2020 hit, being an owner of a wedding planning and event production company, I was laser-focused working around the clock for our clients. For months on end, it was nonstop calls, strategy sessions, and Zoom meetings with clients, professional partners, health & safety experts to effectively postpone, reconfigure and reschedule all of our client’s celebrations.
When we got through all of the heavy logistics, I felt an innate sense to do our part to bring just a little bit of advocacy through the chaos. I wanted to help bring to life something meaningful to help keep loved ones and clients safe while sharing a message of inclusivity + positivity. I called my 92 year old Grandma, who is one of my main inspirations for all things creating and design. Let me tell you, Joanne who is 92 going on 22, can still sew, knit & craft just about ANYTHING! I also reached out to my Mom who made me my first mask, a pretty little Olive & Paisley number with bow ties and a nose adjuster! I quickly realized that given my detail orientation (plus their own), I didn’t want to put added pressure on family especially given we were (and still are) social distancing. I was immediately transported back in time to a collaborative project I was involved in by way of dear friend Fallon PR called Amsale x Kercher.
The Story
We will forever cherish our memories and partnership with Fallon PR, Amsale and Kercher from the store build-out to the fashion show, pop-up activations and the shopping appointments. It was a genuine collaboration and we are grateful to all of the professionals who helped bring the vision to life: Michael Ryan Jr. + Michael Ryan Sr., The Dress Doctor, Binny’s, InoPrints, DineAmic Group Catering, Petal, Okyne Medialab, Something White Styling, Giselle of Belle Bridal Atelier, Jessi Sheehan, Floral Bar, LEAP Weddings, Big Hair Big City, Rose Photo, Kiara Lanier, Melystica, Three One Two + Holli Beauty + More!
It was a dream to see the meaningful concept come to fruition as we welcomed couples and guests for a unique and inclusive wedding shopping experience. Innate to the pop-up experience, was a backdrop design painted by multi-media designer, Kelli DePaolis.
Our masks are inspired by HauteMod’s Love wall from the production, Amsale x Kercher.
Kelli a.k.a. HauteMod is a Chicago-based sketcher, painter and designer. She has painted installations on several mediums including retail stores, restaurants and office walls, interior statement walls in homes, large-scale canvases and scarves for fashion line, Deseda. Her art is derived from pure passion and has an abstract yet whimsical feel. You can find her work around town, showcased on her Instagram handle, @hautemod and now with our Love Mask collections!
Given the intrinsic message and meaning that spawned from Amsale x Kercher, I then reached out to key players who had time. Most were extremely busy given the times so I then reached out to one of our trusted professional partners, BBJ Linen since we work with their team on our client's custom linens for their wedding design details, table decor and special events. Between Kelli’s design insight and BBJ’s knowledge of textiles and PPE, our masks were born!
The Details
We’re In LOVE with our #MAExHauteMod💋 masks and we hope you are too! We receive so much joy when you send us your selfies on Instagram! Keep them coming! Some important details: Our masks at $35 are double lined, reversible (prints + solids), adjustable, made in the USA, non-toxic, are sewn with BBJ locally, are machine washable and celebrate INCLUSIVITY. While the designs come in all Pantone colors, some of the masks are EXTRA SPECIAL:
All Together Mask
The All Together was designed to unify all shades of melanin, a portion of the proceeds of the All Together Masks will go to The Chicago Community Trust. The mission of the trust is a thriving, equitable and connected Chicago region where people of all races, places and identities have the opportunity to reach their potential. Growing up in the inner city of Chicago, this organization is dear to my heart and so important now, more than ever before.
Pride Mask
We celebrate ALL versions of LOVE and the Pride Masks are a reminder of our rainbow of inclusivity. A portion of the proceeds from the purchase of the Pride Masks will support the Howard Brown Health Center which provides inclusive, nondiscriminatory healthcare services to the LGBTQ community! Given current circumstances and these health care options being compromised, this mask is designed in direct response. You will also find these masks at HBH’s Big Orange Ball!
Shop With Meaning
If you are interested in our Love masks, please fill out this order form or click through to our Shop Page. For group orders, customization and any questions at all, please contact us at hello@michiganavenueevents.com
LOVE IS NOT CANCELLED
Thank you so much for your support!
With Love First & Always,