University friends launch pollution mask designed and manufactured in the UK

Designed with the help of experts at Brunel University London, the Airhead mask is a game-changer for commuters, cyclists, and runners in cities

British-made Airhead’s revolutionary mask, founded with the purpose of protecting wearers from city pollution, is now available to purchase.

The brainchild of socially conscious entrepreneurial university friends Harry Young, Alex Smith, and Elliot Denvir, Airhead was founded in June 2019, before the pandemic, as a solution to the lack of effective pollution masks on the market.

The friends were determined to launch a mask that combined personality with real, research-backed innovation, and, as London commuters themselves, fed into their mission of helping city workers combat pollution.

Providing maximum comfort and breathability, effective filtration, an airtight fit which prevents leakage, and offering a sustainable alternative to disposable masks, the Airhead Mask is aimed at those who love being active outdoors, and to improve their lives when they are on the move around the city.

After quitting their jobs and with very little funding, Alex, Elliot and Harry would take to the streets of London promoting Airhead with guerrilla street marketing tactics before a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign propelled them into becoming one of the top 0.5% most funded projects on the crowdfunding platform.

The trio enlisted the help of a team of industry-leading researchers and scientists from Brunel University in 2019 to create a mask capable of blocking PM2.5 particulates from the air, as well as tiny particles down to 0.3 microns in diameter. Crucially, it features a TPE seal to ensure no air leakage, as well as rear-facing valves to quickly move hot air away from the face. The mask also comes with exhalation valve blockers, to make it suitable for use as a Covid face covering in crowded places.

In 2020, Airhead became an award-winning member of the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator and won a government-funded competition to help it expand in India. Following this success, the company launched its Kickstarter campaign in April, with its target of £30,000 achieved in just four hours and a total of £315,511 raised overall, emphasising the demand for pollution protection.

Designed and produced in the UK, the masks were initially only available through crowdfunded pre-orders, but are now for sale to the general public through Airhead’s website.