The American sports, footwear and apparel company, Under Armour, founded in 1996 by Chairman and CEO, Kevin Plank, has joined the battle against the ongoing coronavirus COVID-19  by putting its own experience to work in helping health care systems defend themselves.

The brand has created an innovate face mask called the “origami mask” that does not require sewing, and can thus be produced very quickly, in high numbers, while simultaneously providing an additional barrier against the virus to shield health care workers.

The name stems from the masks resemblance to to the Japanese art, with origami-style folds mold to the topography of the wearer’s face and cover the cheeks, nose and chin areas.

The masks are made from specially chosen, breathable, moisture-resistant fabric that is similar to the material used in the formation of traditional surgical masks. desired mask shape.

Additionally, Under Armour has manufactured face shields and designed specially equipped fanny packs for medical staff in various hospitals and organizations including the University of Maryland Medical System’s (UMMS) 28,000 health care providers and the Baltimore-based LifeBridge health care group.

"When the call came in from our local medical providers for more masks, gowns and supply kits, we just went straight to work," said Randy Harward, Senior Vice President of Advanced Material and Manufacturing Innovation at Under Armour.

“More than 50 Under Armour teammates from materials scientists to footwear and apparel designers from laboratories in Baltimore and Portland quickly came together in search of solutions,” Harward added.

Under Armour has currently turned the innovation lab in its Baltimore headquarters into a factory that producesdisposable surgical masks, face shields and fanny packs.

Mask production at the UA Lighthouse utilizes the lab’s knife cutter, one of the world’s most efficient, high-speed fabric cutting machines, to carve around 100 pieces of fabric at once, which will then be folded and distributed, according to UA.

The brand believes that through combining the innovative design with efficient machine power, it could produce up to 100,000 masks per week in the future.

“We are incredibly grateful for Under Armour’s investment in our health care workers, patients, and each Marylander working hard to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Their willingness and ability to immediately pivot their manufacturing focus to help meet our personal protective equipment (PPE) needs will save lives,” said President and Chief Executive Officer of University of Maryland Medical System Mohan Suntha.