When Air New Zealand and sustainable Kiwi footwear designers, Allbirds collaborated on an “intelligently designed” and “luxurious and sustainable” airline eyemask, we’ll admit to being a little sceptical. After all, what do footwear designers know about creating decent airline amenities? Could they really transform the humble eyemask into something that was that covetable?
Apparently, the answer is a resounding yes! In fact, the ‘Bird Mask’ as it has been dubbed on account of its beak like appearance has proven so popular and sought after that Air New Zealand and Allbirds have now made the mask available to buy. Shoppers will be able to get their hands on one via the official Allbirds online shop or at select Nordstrom stores – currently available in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In addition, the mask can be bought from either the Air New Zealand Airpoints™ Store and Air New Zealand merchandise store. Retailing at $35 USD, the Bird Mask certainly isn’t cheap but it is made out of ZQ-certified New Zealand merino wool, with a castor bean oil-based foam.
The mask features moulded eye indentations to allow for natural eye movement and the birdlike beak helps seal the mask against the face to completely block out light. Trial wearers have noted how sensationally soft the mask is – one that’s definitely not to be discarded at the end of a flight.
Of course, if you’re lucky enough to be one of Air New Zealand’s Business Premier passengers on select North American routes (including the carrier’s fifth freedom flight between London and Los Angeles) then you’ll receive one of the Bird Mask’s with your amenity kit.
But if you’re buying one, then at least Allbirds have added several other designs to choose from.
It’s probably no surprise that the Bird Mask is being made available for purchase – in a way, we’re a little surprised this didn’t come sooner. Would you part with $35 for one of these masks?
