13-Year-Old Boy Who Made Bow Ties For Adoptable Dogs Is Now Making Face Masks

Darius is 13 years old but has already made headlines over the past couple of years for a unique initiative: sewing dog-sized bowties for the puppers of the world.

You read that right! I would support this project regardless, but Darius' reason is sound: as an animal lover, he does it to help shelter dogs get noticed, and hopefully adopted.

Darius, along with some doggos in bowties, were featured on talk shows. His mom told Today that he's been using a sewing machine since he was eight.

Darius' project, now formally christened Beauz and Paws, was recognized in 2018 by none other than Barack Obama, who took the time to write Darius a heartfelt congratulatory letter. A GoFundMe helps provide new materials for the bowties.

With the global pandemic raging, Darius decided to put his sewing talents and his stack of raw materials to good use: making face masks, rather than dog bowties.

Since announcing that he was switching his production back on March 28th, Darius has created a large stack of face masks. These are crucial to help slow the spread of COVID-19.

Because this fabric was originally intended for dog bowties, much of it is dog-themed. But it's evident that Darius has a deft touch with a sewing machine, because these masks are turning out great.

There's a mask shortage in many hospitals, so these simple fabric masks help — not by going to hospitals, but by freeing up professional-grade personal protective equipment for frontline workers.

Let us know what you think of this story in the comments! Also, make sure to check out Darius on Facebook and Instagram. You can also donate to his GoFundMe