CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- The founders of a Charlottesville-based apparel company had quite the surprise Wednesday afternoon when they noticed former President George W. Bush was sporting their mask design at the inauguration.

The company, RHOBACK, started as a lifestyle activewear brand about four years ago. Two of its three founders are graduates of the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia.

The team began making masks at the onset of the pandemic last year and has since donated thousands of the washable, two-layer masks to people in need.

One of the signature design elements of the mask is the American flag on the side, added to encourage all Americans to wear the mask.

"To see President Bush wearing that at the inauguration, on the world stage, and conveying that message of 'together Americans can defeat the virus,' was special to see and special to us, and something that we won’t soon forget," co-founder Kevin Hubbard said.

RHOBACK also uses a portion of its sales to train shelter dogs as service animals for veterans in need. The company says Bush is known to support the cause, making Wednesday's moment even more special.

The company thanked the 43rd president of the United States via Twitter.