Hong Kong, June 25 -- Modern problems require modern solutions, and that's why several sportswear brands have shifted their production time and energy towards making sportswear face masks.

Thanks to the pandemic, the literal must-have accessory has dominated the world. Anyone who could get their hands on cloth (cotton is good enough) could be a purveyor of these protective masks; fashion brands, bridal businesses and even artists have designed their own.

Of course, before it became an accessory, the mask was first a necessity. Faced with a shortage of medical supplies, healthcare workers were in need of personal protective equipment (PPE) like surgical masks, which fashion brands scrambled to make.

Activewear brands had an added advant...