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Colorado Springs nonprofit offers free, accessible masks for deaf and hard of hearing people

ESSC SE ASOCIA CON RAFI NOVA PARA OFRECER MÁSCARA DISEÑADA PENSANDO EN LAS SENSIBILIDADES

Autism Awareness: Easterseals and Rafi Nova develop sensory-friendly masks

This Sustainable Brand Created a Face Mask for People With Sensory Sensitivities

Win one of 8 Easterseals Develops Sensory-Friendly Masks, a $112-128 value.

The Best Valentine's Day Outfits for Every Type of Date

"If you do decide to go out for Valentine's Day or Galentine's Day, don't forget to mask up! The NY-based visual artist Jessie Rubin teamed up with Rafi Nova to make these lovable Valentine's Day masks that come in adult and kids sizes. Right now, get a two pack for $22 (adult) or $18 (child)"

Something to smile about: Newton company's transparent mask is a revelation.

I sprang for two pairs of each, large and small. Many satisfied months later, there’s only one downside that I can see to wearing a Rafi Nova smile mask: Everywhere you go, you’ll be barraged with questions: Where did you get it? How can I get one?

New Needham Mask Initiative Asks 'Who Do You Wear A Mask For?'

"Needham is making more than 2,000 masks available to the public. The masks are from Needham-based Rafi Nova and have the slogan, "Needham Needs You. Mask Up!" The town also provided local restaurants with masks for their workers, masks for Needham seniors, masks for town employees, and masks for hospital workers for their personal use."

The Best Valentine's Gifts for Your Favorite Girls

"A year into the pandemic, the one thing we know for sure is that you can never have enough masks. Visual artist Jessie Rubin designed this playful Rafi Nova pair, which prove that the best way to show love is to take care of others."

Rafi Nova X Jessie Rubin Mask Collection For Valentine’s Day

"Just in time for Valentine’s Day the innovative brand Rafi Nova is introducing new masks designed by Jessie Rubin. The artist is widely celebrated for her use of the word “love” and the use of hearts in bold colors and intuitive design.

The Rubin and Rafi Nova’s Valentine’s Day mask includes two custom designs perfect for her/him/they – making a delightful February 14th gift for a loved one. Sold in a two-pack, the set features two distinct patterns. Masks are available via the website HERE and two packs retail for $22/adults and $18/kids.

Rafi Nova’s mission is to build a global community of families who seek adventure— from the ordinary to extraordinary— and equip them with products that align with their values, meets their ever changing needs, and supports the artisans behind the seams."

Best celebrity masks to inspire your COVID-19 fashion

Actress Millicent Simmonds, known for her roles in Wonderstruck and A Quiet Place, partnered with the Rafi Nova brand to bring us a mask with clear plastic covering for the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities! All proceeds go to important causes.

The Foggy Mask Cure

If you’re here, it’s probably because you are a teacher who received a mask from our Smile Mask fundraiser. Thanks so much for caring for kids! Rafi Nova has a spray that does the trick as well. You can get more masks or the spray by visiting their website at RafiNova.com.

Watch here

Fun Ways to Bring the 2021 Pantone Color of the Year Into Your Home

Rafi Nova was featured in The Everymom's article Fun Ways to Bring the 2021 Pantone Color of the Year Into Your Home. The Everymom recommended Rafi Nova's Adults Everyday Elevated Tie-Behind Mask 3-Pack.

19 face masks that’ll keep you warm this winter

With lightweight quilting, wraparound face coverage and a snuggly fleece, these masks are built for playing in the snow for folks of all ages (they come in adult and children’s sizes.

A more streamlined option with the same wraparound coverage, these quilted masks are made for the cold outdoors this winter.

Vail of the east: Everything you need to know about skiing at Stowe Mountain

I personally rock either the Rafi Nova or Top Trenz masks. Rafi Nova also makes an awesome fleece neck warmer gaiter and sherpa winter warmer face mask which are both great for skiing and being outside.

What happens after the pandemic? Time to pivot — again

Many companies will pivot in the coming months as the pandemic fades. But when? That’s a question on the minds of the founders of Rafi Nova, a fair-trade travel accessories brand. Like Pomchies, it switched to manufacturing face masks during the pandemic.

“As people begin traveling again, we anticipate an increase in demand for our travel accessories,” says Rafi Nova CEO Marissa Goldstein. “However initially, many may not be comfortable traveling. We think families will want to travel if supported by a heightened sense of safety. The demand for masks won’t disappear but customers are now looking for new ways to get out, explore and feel safe. We’ll balance our PPE by expanding our manufacturing to meet those demands.”

The Best Masks for Kids and Adults (with or without filter pocket)

What I like about this mask // It’s comfortable, adjustable and comes in really great prints. They are my two year old’s favorite. They are available in a great array of sizes from toddler to adult. The brand even makes a performance fabric and masks with a clear panel, which is especially great if you’re around young kids or anyone with difficulty hearing.

Read here

3 last-minute gift exchange deals that'll keep you under a $25 limit

The excitement of expanding your fun face mask arsenal is one tiny bright spot of 2020. Ravi Nova's holiday masks are perfect for the overly-festive person you know, from classic sweater prints, to adorable reindeer, to superlatives like "Most likely to fall asleep watching football."

After The Pandemic: These Companies Are Preparing To Pivot—Again

Many companies will pivot in the coming months as the pandemic fades. But when? That's a question on the minds of the founders of Rafi Nova, a fair-trade travel accessories brand. Like Pomchies, it switched to manufacturing face masks during the pandemic.

"As people begin traveling again, we anticipate an increase in demand for our travel accessories," says Rafi Nova CEO Marissa Goldstein. "However initially, many may not be comfortable traveling. We think families will want to travel if supported by a heightened sense of safety. The demand for masks won't disappear but customers are now looking for new ways to get out, explore and feel safe. We'll balance our PPE by expanding our manufacturing to meet those demands."

12 Face Masks Your Kids May Actually Wear

Rafi Nova masks are soft and comfortable, with bright, kid-friendly designs. The tightness can be adjusted, but it might be difficult for little ones to do on their own. The multilayered material is thick but breathable, and the adjustable nose bridge ensures a better seal. Double-check the size chart before purchasing. The company also makes windowed Smile Masks, which we haven't tested but may be a good fit for some families.

The Best Face Masks for the Holidays

We were lucky to be introduced to the Rafi Nova face mask designs earlier in the year, and we weren’t surprised when they came up with fab new pieces with a holiday theme. After all, they were the first brand that came up with a transparent mask to show the mouth (which, aside from being great to flash a smile every so often, is of extreme help to the Deaf community as it helps read lips.)

Here are the hottest holiday gifts that give back

"Now Rafi Nova is a family owned company and they specialize in very practical pouches and bags many in which they have details from artisans from Southeast Asia. They have lots of great items but since the pandemic hit they've been specializing in very beautiful masks."

Shopping expert Trae Bodge showcases holiday gifts that support causes.

Watch here

Last-Minute Gifts That Give Back

This family-owned company produces items like practical pouches and bags, often with fabrics sourced from artisans in Southeast Asia. Since they pandemic hit, they’ve been producing stylish face masks and safety-oriented gifs, like their Ready Set Go Bag ($64), which is the perfect on-the-go pouch with face masks, hand sanitizer, anti-microbial gloves and a tool to help you avoid touching surfaces. I also like their Beanie and Holiday Mask 2-Packs ($36), which are great for adults and kids.

The Give: Their current charity partner is Adopt a Classroom, which helps to fund a teacher or school here in the US.

EXTRA Holiday Gift Guide

Pretty Connected Mask Chains paired with masks for the whole family. Picks from Rafi Nova, Simple Satch, Coco+Jase and BOY MEETS GIRL

Watch here

21 LAST-MINUTE GIFTS & STOCKING STUFFERS FOR KIDS

Cooler weather is finally here! But what does that mean in our current face mask-wearing, pandemic-protected world? Thankfully, Rafi Nova has it figured out! Their new selection of winter masks includes the Adults + Kids Quilted Winter Warmer Face Mask. Let the little ones out to play with the neighborhood kids at the first snowfall, safely covered from ear to ear! With lightweight quilted and sherpa versions, these are perfect kids stocking stuffers that keep the family safe in any outdoor crowds this winter. Snowballs, sleds, and skates await!

Seeking something fancier to include in your kids stocking stuffers? Snag some mommy and me Adults + Kids Sequin Masks. Available in both silver and multicolored sequins, these gorgeous masks are full of bling and sure to turn heads at the holiday parade or the grocery store! Make sure those littlest “family members” are protected too, with the oh-so-adorable Kids + Doll Everyday Mask Set. Bring on the germ protection, warmth, glitz, and glamour, and celebrate the holidays in style, with Rafi Nova.

89 Best Face Masks for Kids (And the Entire Family)

Rafi Nova's masks come in tons of options for all kinds of weather. The company's everyday essentials masks offer three layers of lightweight 100 percent cotton, that include a middle anti-bacterial layer. You'll also get a nose bridge, adjustable ear loops and an additional filter pocket. Teens and adults can also choose from the lightweight performance options, as well as kids styles in cute patterns, made from cotton.

Eight masks that make great stocking stuffers

Clear-paneled masks can make it easier to communicate. (Rafi Nova/)

Another issue with wearing masks is that people can’t see your facial expressions. That’s particularly problematic for those who are hard of hearing, because lip-reading and visual cues are essential to non-verbal communication. Rafi Nova’s Smile masks, created with input from a speech language pathologist, feature a 2-by-4.75-inch clear plastic panel that lets everyone see (most of) your beautiful face. The rest of the triple-layered mask is cotton, and it comes in adult’s and children’s sizes.

Where to Buy Face Masks for Kids

Butterflies and cars and sequins, oh my! These and more fun prints available for kids (ages 5 to 10) and adults from this family-owned company that's named after the couple's four children. (So yeah, they know a thing or two about making comfy items for kids.)

Eight face masks for people you care about

Find perfect gifts from regional retailers – in the comfort of your home

Give someone a smile. One thing we all wear most days is a mask. And wouldn’t it be nice to have people we see notice if we smiled at them? Enter the smile mask (starting at $24 for two on yoursocialmask.com); it has a transparent panel that lets people see your smile, and read your lips and facial expressions. They’re made by local entrepreneur Adam Goldstein of Rafi Nova, based in Needham. A perfect gift for any friends, family, co-workers and anyone else eager for a little self-expression.

2020 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

This beautiful backpack comes from Rafi Nova, a family-owned travel accessory brand.

The company grew out of Marissa and Adam Goldstein’s love of traveling in Southeast Asia, where they live part of the year (in Vietnam). Inspired by the handicrafts of the Hmong artisans, they launched a Fair Trade line rooted in traditional Vietnamese textiles.

The vibrant SuperNova Backpack is ultra-sustainable, made with vegan leather, recycled plastic lining, and upcycled vintage Asian textiles.

The backpack is as functional as it is fashionable, with an exterior padded laptop pocket, insulated inner pocket, vertical side zippers for easy access, and more great features.

Masks Work — But What Makes Them More Effective? The Latest on Layers, Filters and Particles

The caveat for face shields, she says, is if a caregiver needs to communicate with someone with a hearing impairment or if a child with a developmental disability won’t wear a mask. Companies have also created masks that have clear plastic over the mouth for this purpose. Take Rafi Nova’s Smile Mask, which leaves the mouth fully visible, for example.

Holiday Gift Guide 2020: Best Gifts For Business Travelers

The colorful Black Sapa Crossbody Bag from Rafi Nova is a fun choice for an eco-friendly traveler who is going for a quick weekend getaway. It converts from serving as a pouch to a crossbody bag with its removable strap. It has a hidden pocket for smartphones and two zippered pouches for storing whatever you want within easy reach. It’s crafted from vegan leather and handmade, vintage, up-cycled textiles that have been carefully chosen from Northern Vietnam. A matching backpack and a matching mask are available.

The Best Face Masks You Can Buy Right Now

With a transparent BPA-free plastic panel, these reusable masks were designed with the needs of members of the hard of hearing and deaf community in mind. Flexible adjustable straps accommodate hearing aids or cochlear implants.

The 17th Annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business

I’m incredibly humbled and honored to share that I have been named a Female Entrepreneur of the Year in the 17th Annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business. Pivoting Rafi Nova to masks was a necessary transition and I couldn’t do it without the incredible support of the entire team.With that being said, Rafi Nova was also awarded silver in the category of “Most Valuable Corporate Response” for our exemplary response to the pandemic to ensure the well-being of our community. We couldn’t do it without your support! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

Where to Shop the Stylish Face Masks Celebrities Keep Wearing

The Quiet Place actress partnered with fair-trade fashion brand, Rafi Nova, to design the Millie Smile Mask, a custom transparent mask that restores visual cues like lip-reading and facial expressions to communication. Net proceeds from the masks are being donated to the non-profit organization Deaf Women of Color and Loving Hands and Hearts based in Texas, which helps parents of children who are deaf. Designed by both Millie and a speech-language pathology clinical fellow, the mask features a wide transparent panel and custom floral print.

One Mom’s Advice on the Best Face Mask for Kids

It’s amazing how small businesses adapted so well to quickly produce masks and improve them over a few months to make them really functional and cute! My own kids are now 2.5 and almost six and it took a lot of trial and error to find masks that both fit them well and that they want to wear.

"My two year old loves these masks and they fit her well. They are available in both organic and performance fabrics ranging from beautifully embroidered to camouflage print. The brand also sells a smile mask with a clear window and donates all profits from those masks to organizations that serve the deaf and hard of hearing."

Rising from pandemic, the business success stories of tomorrow?

On Feb. 16, Marissa and Adam Goldstein launched Rafi Nova, a company selling backpacks for adventure travelers. Sustainably sourced, using textiles woven by Hmong women in Vietnam paid at a fair-trade rate, the backpacks might have been a thing. But the pandemic hit and domestic and international travel ground to a halt.

“Nobody was even leaving their house, let alone buying a $230 travel pack,” says Ms. Goldstein, whose business is in Needham, Massachusetts. “We probably launched a travel fashion company at the worst time in history.”

With few sales and no money left, the couple decided they at least could put their Vietnamese factory partners to work making face masks, which they could donate to front-line workers in the United States. “It wasn’t a business opportunity,” Ms. Goldstein says. “It was out of a sense of service.”

FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING, CLEAR FACE MASKS ARE MORE THAN AN AESTHETIC CHOICE.

Marissa Goldstein of Rafi Nova, whose Smile Mask is constructed with a clear rectangular panel at the center, was compelled to launch the product after a clinical speech pathologist pointed out how traditional masks raise a barrier to lip-reading and visual cues. “We jointly designed a clear face covering to ‘unmask’ masked communication with the deaf and hard of hearing community,” Goldstein said.

Smile Masks Help Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Communicate While Reducing COVID-19 Transmission

Even if you don’t personally know someone who is deaf or hard of hearing, Gampel says the Smile Mask can prepare you for daily encounters with people who have an extra hard time communicating when almost everyone is wearing face covering.

'Millicent Simmonds' Clear Mask Increases Accessibility for Deaf and Hard of Hearing People

In partnership with the brand Rafi Nova, Millicent helped create the “Millie Smile Mask,” a mask with a clear insert allowing you to see people's mouths. The clear plastic means deaf and hard of hearing people can lip read while everyone stays safe by keeping their masks on, making the public health necessity of mask-wearing more accessible.

Face Masks That Don't Suck and Where to Buy Them

You've probably discovered that it isn't easy finding a mask that provides proper protection, fits well, is comfortable, and is actually a design you'd wear.

'A Quiet Place' actress creates masks for hearing-impaired

Rafi Nova reached out to me to make a clear mask and I thought it was good timing. They saw a problem in the deaf and hard of hearing community and wanted to come up with a solution.

The Best Face Masks for Young Kids

Designed by a Speech-Language Pathologist for the hard of hearing community, the “Smile” mask lets your child’s smile be seen even when wearing their mask! It’s also an excellent option for children in speech therapy. Choose between ear loops or tie-behind straps. (It might be worth buying their anti-fog spray too.)

We Need Entrepreneurial Leaders Now More Than Ever

Zamarin isn’t the only entrepreneurial leader who has responded nimbly and rapidly to the unprecedented constraints and opportunities created by the coronavirus pandemic. Vacuum company Dyson invented a new type of ventilator, while Bauer switching from producing hockey gear to making personal protective equipment. Numerous textile companies, such as bag startup Rafi Nova, pivoted to making masks for consumers.

Time to Master Your Smize

Despite what we may think, people are probably getting the idea that we’re smiling at them. That said, if this is all proving too complicated for you (as it is for me), might I suggest you simply go the clear-mask route.

Protect Yourself with These Stylish Face Masks

p>These colorful masks have three layers: the outer layer features Rafi Nova's signature handmade upcycled Hmong and Thai textiles, and the two other layers are made of 100% cotton. These masks are one size, should be washed on a gentle cycle, and air-dried. For any purchase from this limited-edition collection, the brand will donate five performance masks to frontline workers. Read More

Covid-19 FAQs: Where to Find Stylish Wedding Face Masks

The Rafi Nova Smile Mask has been designed for those with speech and hearing impediments in mind. The clear panel on the front allows for visible communication and the ear straps on the tie-behind version comfortably accommodate hearing aids or cochlear implants.

'A Quiet Place Part II' actor designed a mask for the hearing-impaired

Most notably, award-winning actor Millicent Simmonds ("A Quiet Place," "Wonderstruck" and the upcoming "A Quiet Place Part II") has teamed up with fair-trade mask maker Rafi Nova to design the "Millie Smile Mask." The mask features a wide, transparent panel for lipreading, and a floral pattern taken from a painting Ms. Simmonds made for her mother. The tag is emblazoned with the actor's signature.

Seattle Pi

My San Antonio

Houston Chronicle

The Year We Stopped Dressing Up

In the past six months I have bought a sweater, a pair of sweatpants and 15 different facemasks (Rafi Nova are my favorites). That's it!

"Rafi Nova are my favorites"
People Magazine's Editor Chief Dan Wakeford on facemasks

The Best Clear Face Masks

The Best Face Masks for Everyone

The Best Clear Face Masks