Newburgh-based woman-owned business is creating jobs and essential protection for the masses

“When the pandemic hit, with my background in tech, textiles and manufacturing, and the looming PPE shortage, I knew I had to step in and try to make a difference.”

— Marleen Vogelaar

by niki@hvny.info

As we celebrate Women's History Month and International Women’s Day today, we tend to look back in time to mark the victories and struggles of notable women like our beloved icon Eleanor Roosevelt here in the Hudson Valley. But what about the women trailblazers here, today?

“When the pandemic hit, with my background in tech, textiles and manufacturing, and the looming PPE shortage, I knew I had to step in and try to make a difference,” said Marleen Vogelaar. Marleen, a decade-long resident of the Hudson Valley, then pivoted her sustainable Orange County-based made-to-order activewear company, Ziel, to fill the desperate need of high-quality face masks.

Operating out of a 14,000-square foot factory in the heart of Newburgh, Marleen and her team – the Hudson Valley Mask Co. – recently installed an automated N95 production line and is in the process of obtaining N95 approval for the masks from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, as well as the United States Food and Drug Administration.

The Hudson Valley Mask Co.’s non-medical Double Filter Face Masks – with independently-tested fabrics offering 99% bacterial filtration – are now available to the general public on the HVNY Marketplace in both 10-count and 20-count boxes. Each mask is individually wrapped and sanitized.

“We’re thrilled with these results, and we think we’ve created something really special," Marleen added. "While the CDC continues to recommend that N95s remain reserved for healthcare providers, a better mask is within reach for us all – manufactured right here in the Hudson Valley.”

Shop + learn more about Marleen and all the makers on the HVNY Marketplace.