The face shield features golden studs and the brand’s iconic monogram

Making fashion out the pandemic. That is what the global fashion industry is thinking of as the coronavirus continues to affect the industry worldwide. But is it also forecasting fashion’s latest trend?

Luxury brand Louis Vuitton is releasing a stylish take on protective wearables, particularly on face shields. Part of its 2021 Cruise collection, the French fashion house’s face shield features its iconic monogram and it has golden stud details engraved with the brand’s name. 

Providing a dual purpose in style and function, the face shield doubles as a sun visor as it is made of photochromatic material that darkens in response to sunlight, protecting its wearer from mild glares of the sun.

“The LV Shield makes for an eye-catching headpiece, both stylish and protective,” the company says. “ seamlessly transitions from dawn to dusk, adding a discreet yet sophisticated touch to one’s personal protection.”

According to multiple media reports, the LV face shield will be available on Oct. 30 and retails for less than $1,000, about P48,000.

This is not the first time Louis Vuitton dabbled on making protective wearables. Last April, the fashion brand repurposed several of its ateliers in France to “produce hundreds of thousands of non-surgical face masks” and hospital gowns all donated to frontline healthcare workers. 

Creating fashionable take on protective gears is not new among Filipino designers. During the early days of the community quarantine, we’ve seen designer PPEs and face masks created in different varieties—floral-printed, ninja-inspired, reversible, and the indigenous kind—all made from woven materials made to protect wearers from the coronavirus threat. 

Now, what do you think about this couture face shield?