Life

Anne Hailes: Hats off to mask-making designer Susan – and isn't Normal People brilliant?

Anne Hailes

Anne Hailes

Anne is Northern Ireland's first lady of journalism, having worked in the media since she joined Ulster Television when she was 17. Her columns have been entertaining and informing Irish News readers for 25 years.

Susan Rogers has been making face masks for members of the public and scrub gowns for health care workers from her home in Newtownabbey
Susan Rogers has been making face masks for members of the public and scrub gowns for health care workers from her home in Newtownabbey Susan Rogers has been making face masks for members of the public and scrub gowns for health care workers from her home in Newtownabbey

TO WEAR or not to wear, that is the question. Seems that face masks are an optional extra but, if you can source them, at least they can stop your germs getting out and so offer some protection to the people around you.

Despite the controversy as to their effectiveness at this particular time, it seems opinion falls on the positive side – it certainly does for the army of thousands throughout the UK making them at home and donating them to those in the front line of the coronavirus battle.

One young woman has done her research and is convinced of their value and is now supplying masks to the public and scrub gowns for Northern Ireland Scrubs, an organisation that coordinates the incoming garments and then sends them out to areas within the NHS, care homes, doctors surgeries and testing centres.

When I talked to Susan Rogers at her home in Newtownabbey a few days ago she admitted she was tired. Why? She’d been up most of the night completing a rush order of scrub gowns for nurses.

First I wanted to know about the face masks and she told me how she uses durable polycotton, a fabric made from a blend of polyester and cotton, which is soft and moisture absorbing.

“I started making masks for friends and family and that market grew. They are made using three layers of fabric and in nice bright colours. I charge for them so that I can buy material for the scrubs.”

Although these materials are available from companies on Facebook, as far as the scrubs are concerned, Susan did her homework and discovered she could buy locally from Craftswoman Fabrics in Kilroot who offered her discontinued scrubs fabrics. She then moved on to to packaging.

“The staff in the Tesco store in Newtownabbey – specifically store manager Hughie – agreed to provide the plastic garment bags from their clothing deliveries to package my scrubs so everything can be donated free to those who need them most.”

:: Building a career

Susan is 23 and has been sewing since she was 10 years old, loving how she could make something from nothing. At school she developed a love of art and her intricate work led her on to fashion and the prestigious National College of Art and Design in Dublin where she was one of the top 10 finalists in the Young Designer of the Year in 2018.

She opted to remained in Dublin to become an intern for Paul Henry Tailoring where she learned high-end bespoke tailoring for both male and female garments and where a man’s suit could cost over £1,000!

“Mostly middle-aged businessmen wanting the best, also custom-made equestrian designs, cutting and tailoring individual riding jackets and jodhpurs to the customer’s instructions, gentlemen going to the races or social events and of course grooms wanting to look fabulous on their wedding day.”

With all this knowledge and experience she came back to Belfast to set up her successful design business but just now she can’t work with her clients face to face so she has turned her tailoring skills to supporting those in the front line of health care.

Susan’s masks come in two sizes, £10 for adults and £5 for children with all profits being used to sustain the important work of supplying scrubs.

More on Susan’s contact details and her fashion portfolio at wearbyser.com

:: Tonight’s the night

EPISODE three of Normal People, the television drama everyone seems to be talking about – and I’m not surprised. Well, I’m way ahead of the game. I watched last week's two opening half hours and by Tuesday 3pm I’d finished all 12 episodes. Brilliant, is my opinion.

It’s about two young people who are attracted to each other at school, two loners with huge issues in their lives. They develop a relationship and discover the complexities of both life and physical love. It’s heartbreaking at times and I certainly became totally involved in the development of their relationship, remembering as I do the insecurities of teenage love, dreadful lack of confidence and fear of rejection. I’ll say no more.

Watch for yourself and don’t be bothered with the warning – ‘scenes of a sexual nature’ – they are absolutely valid; they are graphic but not pornographic, although I must say the sound of kissing – or sucking face, as someone put it – gets a bit much.

Even in my favourite film of all time The Bridges of Madison County the noise of glorious Clint Eastwood almost eating Meryl Streep alive is a bit sick making!

:: Back to Normal People

And what about the 24-year-old Paul Mescal who plays Connell, a young Donegal man, a fit football player whose mother works for the lady in the big house. He’s at high school with the daughter of the house, Marianne, played by 21-year-old Daisy Edgar-Jones, so there are class issues to consider and overcome.

I was in touch with Belfast actress Eleanor Methven who appears in the series.

“I thoroughly enjoyed my involvement,” she told me. “Lovely cast and crew. The wonderful Paul Mescal is set to have a great career.”

Lucky Eleanor will be playing alongside Paul again in the next production she’s involved in, Lisa McGee and Toby Beer's The Deceived.

If you have a tablet I bet you'll scroll on to the next episode and the next episode of Normal People till you finish the lot. Despite having done this, I will be watching every Monday night as there is so much detail to enjoy, as well as the frustration of watching a young couple finding their way in love.