June 23, 2021

Text: Annie Block

Layer Designs Collection for Health & Wellness Startup Never Go Alone

Edition 01: Sandstone, the inaugural collection for health and wellness start-up Never Go Alone designed by Layer, includes a reusable face mask. Photography courtesy of Layer.

Benjamin Hubert has his finger on the pulse of industrial design. This year, the founder of Layer, a multidisciplinary studio of engineers, artists, experience experts, researchers, and branding specialists who create items that will help define the way we live, work, travel, and communicate, delivered a keynote at SXSW, won an award for his Beosound Balance speakers for Bang & Olufsen, and is launching an outdoor furniture collection with Allermuir. Of particular
interest is Layer’s recent work with well­ness start-up Never Go Alone, founded by
entrepreneur and socialite Nga Nguyen—dubbed “fashion’s patient zero”—after contracting and recuperating from COVID. Hubert and Nguyen de­veloped a suite of handsome products—a face mask, hand-sanitizer bottle, and sanitizing-wipes case, all reusable and/or refillable—designed to empower users to take ownership over their health and safety, with packaging that’s driven by observed human be­ha­viors and environmental concern. Never Go Alone launches globally in July.

The face mask consists of an outer layer in breathable, lightweight knit fabric bonded to an Ultrasuede mid layer that mirrors the curves of the face, an inner layer of advanced technical Superfine knit that incorporates antibacterial fibers for increased protection, and a replaceable custom PM2.5 filter that slips into an internal pocket. Photography courtesy of Layer.
The 75ml hand-sanitizer bottle and a sanitizing-wipes case are both refillable and made from injection-molded recycled plastic. When not in use, the mask folds flat and can be stored in a travel pouch. Photography courtesy of Layer.
The reusable face mask. Photography courtesy of Layer.

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