The story of Callaghan masks

These masks were born out of the need to protect our team. As it was impossible at the time to find them on the market, we made the decision to manufacture them ourselves. The first prototype was made out of a surgical mask pattern on the 17th of March, just 3 days after the State of Alarm was declared in our country. Twenty-four hours later we had already optimized the pattern and we managed to manufacture just over a hundred masks, using the materials we had available in our factory: high protection linings and elactics taken from shoe laces.
Given the great need that existed at the time, we donated part of those first units to the Arnedo Health Care Center. The health care workers took a picture wearing our masks that later that day they would post in social media. That picture had a viral effect and immediately it was all over the news. It took us by surprise.

We started receiving hundreds of phone calls asking us for masks. Requests that we were unable to address but which helped us to understand the magnitude of the problem. Then, in moments of uncertainty and great concern, we made the decision to put all our human resources and technological potential to help combat this pandemic. We adapted to the new reality that was plaguing our country. In addition to continuing to manufacture masks to donate to those in need, we started working on new projects and ideas. We put our 3D printing technology machines to manufacture protective screens 24/7, we developed protective glasses prototypes, ear masks protetors…

In parallel, companies, workers and volunteers of Arnedo we joined together to manufacture sanitary material ( health care workers gowns…) to donate it to hospitals in coordination with the Health Ministry of La Rioja and the Arnedo city council.

The beauty of this story is the ability of a footwear company to quickly adapt to the current circumstances in order to produce what our society needed at the time.

These hygienic masks are an optimized version of those first prototypes, they are made of two water-repellent polyester layers and one layer of polypropylene, and for us they are a symbol of adaptation and resistance.