LIHU‘E — Shanlee Jimenez of Lihu‘e has been busy the past few days, said her husband James Jimenez Saturday at Discount Fabric Warehouse in Lihu‘e.
“She hasn’t gone to sleep yet,” James Jimenez said. “She’s been working on sewing at least 25 fabric masks for the county. The sewing machine just gave out. We need another one.”
The Jimenez couple was just one of a steady stream of face-masked customers who strolled into the social-distance-compliant store in search of fabric and other supplies needed to create face masks.
“It’s been pretty busy the past few days,” said Erika Hessheimer, the store’s manager. “We’re out of stock on certain sizes of elastic right now, but we’ve been working on the orders so we can keep things in stock.”
Unlike the stores seen on television news where lines snaked outside the door, Discount Fabric Warehouse customers had their significant other partners waiting patiently in cars while they tended to their sewing needs. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The demand for fabric and supplies for fabric face masks took off following Mayor Derek Kawakami’s request for voluntary wearing of face masks by citizens 10 years and older while out in public.
“As mayor, I am strongly recommending that all businesses and services require your employees to wear cloth masks,” Kawakami said during his April 3 update on COVID-19.
“Personally, I am strongly urging all public-facing businesses to require your customers over the age of 10 to wear cloth masks upon entering your business. Additionally, I am strongly urging all individuals over the age of 10 to wear a cloth mask or face covering any time you are outside in the public.
“This is not a mandate. At this point, I’d like to avoid creating more rules, or have to require our police officers to enforce this rule. Rather, I am asking for voluntary compliance,” Kawakami said.
His request was echoed by Dr. Janet Berreman, state Department of Health Kaua‘i district health officer.
“Whatever mask you choose, wear it so that it covers both your nose and your mouth,” Berreman said. “That’s how it keeps the germs from spreading. These do not need to be surgical masks. They can be simple cloth masks made from fabric, or T-shirts or bandanas worn over the lower face.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends cloth face coverings in public settings, adding that cloth masks are an excellent way to prevent people from infecting others.
Walmart, currently observing social distancing and special COVID-19 opening hours, also carries a line of fabrics in its fabric department.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
