Facekini inventor launches winter design

The Facekini has migrated from the beach to the mountains with the launch of a new version designed to protect against the cold.

Zhang Shifan, inventor of the Facekini — a full-head mask that reveals only the eyes, nose and mouth — released the seventh generation of her product on Oct 15 on a mountaintop in Qingdao, Shandong province.

The new model is a balaclava cap crocheted from wool that can be worn while working outdoors, taking part in winter sports or traveling in cold weather, according to Zhang.

Drawing inspiration from an octopus, the design has a thick, black, wool “mustache” around the mouth, which is used to absorb heat from the sun and block cold air, she said.

The original Facekini, this summer’s popular beach trend, is used by swimmers and beachgoers to protect against the sun’s ultraviolet rays.

The masks arrived on the international fashion scene in 2014 when French magazine CR Fashion Book featured a facekini-themed photo shoot.

Zhang said she sells 40,000 Facekinis a year, while the new winter version sells for 70 yuan ($10).

Captions

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A mountaineer wears the new winter Facekini on a mountaintop in Qingdao, Shandong province. The mask is designed to protect against the cold. [Photo by Wang Haibin / for chinadaily.com.cn]

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A group of mountaineers try out the winter Facekini in Qingdao. [Photo by Wang Haibin / for chinadaily.com.cn]

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The new Facekini’s wool “mustache” is designed to absorb heat from the sun and block cold air. [Photo by Wang Haibin / for chinadaily.com.cn]

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Facekini inventor Zhang Shifan promotes the seventh generation of the mask in Qingdao on Oct 15. [Photo by Wang Haibin / for chinadaily.com.cn ]

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A mountaineer wears a Facekini in Qingdao. [Photo by Wang Haibin / for chinadaily.com.cn]