Jordanian chef Omar Sartawi has created sustainable face masks from eggplant peel amid high demand for masks to protect against the spread of COVID-19.

The chef used a salting and drying technique dating back to the 13th century from the Inca cuisine. He also incorporated the French approach of pressure cooking, which helps produce a texture similar to skin.

Sartawi initially started using this innovative technique to create women’s accessories during Jordan Fashion Week, but as the country went into lockdown he changed direction and started creating masks.

Fashion designer and founder of Milan-based fashion house in Italy, Salam Dajani, and jeweller, Princess Nejla Bint Asem, contributed to the aesthetic design of the masks. The eggplant peel takes about two weeks to reach the required texture, depending on the size of the vegetable.

Due to the material’s limited life-span, the chef is encouraging people to find other sustainable and environmentally-friendly ways of producing masks.

The Ministry of Health has asked Jordanians to treat wearing face masks as a compulsory part of their daily routine, highlighting the impact they have on decreasing the spread of infection.