After the basic mask is assembled, a material called "no-sew" is laid on top.
This is the black, shiny looking material that divides the front of the mask into four segments and outlines the perimeter of the product. It's called no-sew because it is bonded to the material with a heat-sealed bond as a opposed to a needle, which creates perforations in the fabric.
After the no-sew material is placed, the masks go through a heat press in a similar process used in sneaker production.
The no-sew material, which is commonly used in New Balance shoes, has been an attractive feature to observers of the new masks.
"Even though we were really focused on performance, a lot of the feedback we had was 'That's really an awesome New Balance look, it's very unique,'" Wheeler said.