• Courtesy of ‘The Bridge Co’

We are once again allowed back outside after the lockdown lifted, but the end is yet to arrive, and the pandemic is very much present. Covid-19 remains a very real concern.  Getting oneself vaccinated and ensuring that our loved ones also get the jab is our primary objective. However, we must also make sure that we continue to take all necessary precautions – hand washing, maintaining social distancing guidelines, and wearing masks, to help prevent the spread.  While we are all mindful of these necessities, the anxiety is very real and additional protection is always welcome, and in looking for a comfortable layer of protection for those who may have the need to go out in public, The Bridge Co. (Pvt.) Ltd. company has come up with a pretty ideal solution – the bucket hat visor.  The bucket hat visor has recently become a rather popular item in East Asian countries that were heavily plagued by the pandemic.  The item is essentially a functional bucket hat; a practical accessory that has seen a recent revival in mainstream use due to its practicality, and a PVC visor that extends beneath one’s chin that has been attached to the front flap. This allows a full face coverage and an added layer of protection to your daily wear mask. [caption id="attachment_165346" align="alignleft" width="246"] The Bridge Co. (Pvt.) Ltd. Founder Shanthilal Rathnayake[/caption] The Bridge Co. (Pvt.) Ltd. Founder Shanthilal Rathnayake shared that the reason why they decided to start producing the item was because originally, when the pandemic was at its height, many companies went into making protective gear, and they also wanted to produce something that was useful to the general public during these times. However, they did not want to pile onto the same kind of product but wished to address a different issue: “When we were looking around for the best possible item, we came across this hat and visor combo. It proved to be a useful item particularly for the elderly and young children,” said Shanthilal.  He said that many mothers are afraid that their kids’ masks may get displaced on their faces, and children are often exposed to other children who simply don’t know or can understand the importance of keeping your mask on or maintaining distance, and so this was a great relief for them. Similarly, this was a great option for the elderly as well, considering that it is a comfortable wearable protective item when compared to the protective shield.  Shanthilal shared that many office workers who are continuously exposed to the public – those who have to engage in multiple customer interactions – also favour this item as it is easy to use: “The bucket hat traditionally is a holiday item, it is casual and comfortable and it fits just about anyone. So many of these office workers who had to wear a Covid shield regularly on their face preferred this as it was less uncomfortable and less obstructive to their natural movements.”  He shared however that the younger teenage to mid-twenties demographic has been the group that was less likely to pick it up as they may see it as garish or not fashionable, but they are currently working on producing a wider variety of colours and some patterns in the hopes that it may remedy the concern.  Shanthilal provided that The Bridge Co. (Pvt.) Ltd. currently only manufactures safety jackets and bucket hat face shields. He shared that because they are a smaller company, when starting up they felt sharing their initiative with other similarly situated entrepreneurs was the best way to move forward, and they have collaborated with a local seamstress who manages all of their orders.  The bucket hat is made of a fabric known as Cotton Twill, paired with denim and polyester, and the shield is clear PVC. The thick bucket hat integrated with the face shield offers protection against droplets, saliva, and the PVC transparent face mask protects the face, mouth, and nose in public.  The Bridge Co. (Pvt.) Ltd., 287/3, 164/37, Samanala Uyana Road , New Keany Road, Malabe, Sri Lanka.  Tel       + 94719922207   Fax      + 94711003218