Joburgers can now buy designer face masks from a vending machine

Despite what you may think, there are some pros to wearing masks. For one thing, you don't need to budget for that new lipstick, though you might have to rethink your eye makeup. You also have a great reason to up your smize game.

But the best reason of all is the fact that, if you're so inclined, you can now choose a really beautiful, well-designed, fashionable mask to go with your outfit.

Sandton City and South African Fashion Week (SAFW) have joined forces to bring you what every fashionable shopper has been waiting for: a vending machine full of masks that have been designed and created by some of SA's most-loved designers.

The MiMask range features the work of Gert-Johan Coetzee, Black Coffee, Ephymol, Kottin & Twille and Oh Sole.

The fun and fashionable project is an attempt to support the fashion industry's value chain. Sandton City and SAFW have been behind the creation of the range of face masks to spread a story of hope sewn between their seams — to pay it forward to seamstresses, pattern-makers, designers and fashion students affected by the pandemic.

The SAFW mask vending machines can be found on level 4 near the info kiosk, and on level 6 in the Diamond Walk.

While you're on the Diamond Walk level, be sure to wander through Gert-Johan Coetzee's Retrospective collection, a tribute to 10 years of achievement in fashion, and the skilled hands that have shaped and defined many unforgettable fashion moments.

There are 30 gowns on display, showcasing styles that have graced South African red carpets for a decade.

• The Gert-Johan Coetzee Retrospective will be open to the public until July 30.