What Drove Me to Start Chemo Headwear?

I make bespoke dresses under the label Featherstone Frocks (www.featherstonefrocks.com) but last year Lucy, one of my lovely dress clients asked me if I could make some turbans & bandannas for her as she was going through chemotherapy.  We experimented with several different styles and worked out which ones worked and which didn’t and I made lots in a variety of silk, cotton & cashmere printed & plain fabrics to see her through her chemotherapy.  It is Lucy you see modelling for me on my website.  Over a period of 18 months I had several people asking me if I could help their friends with chemo headwear and eventually when a friend came to me with a headscarf I had made and that had been worn ever day for 6 months and then posted on to a friend of a friend I realised there was a need for high-end, luxurious headwear made from high quality fabrics.  Having lost both my parents to cancer in my early twenties I completely understand the rigours of chemotherapy and was keen to give something back to Macmillan.  Hence, Chemo Headwear (www.chemoheadwear.co.uk) was born.

Having a degree in textiles I am passionate about fabrics and have selected only the finest quality cotton, silk, cashmere & bamboo fabrics.  I also love print and have some wonderful Liberty of London print fabrics to choose from as well as checks & plain fabrics.  I use only the best quality fabrics and feel strongly that only natural fabrics will do – no sweaty polyesters here!  Only natural fabrics are breathable & wickable which will keep you warm in winter & cool in summer.  All the fabrics are lightweight so that they are not heavy on your head and they do not look out of place worn indoors. All the fabrics are incredibly soft & tactile and comfortable to wear.  I have pulled together a beautiful range of colours and prints in different types of fabric creating a vast choice and I very much hope something for everybody.

It was a traditional turban style that Lucy came to me for in the first place and I made her a couple in plain silk satins as well as incredibly soft 100% cashmere pashmina’s that we cut up to make the softest, lightest turbans you can imagine.  Hence, I have called my turban style “Lucy” and it is something I have found people either love or hate.  It does looks stunning on certain people but I think takes a certain confidence to pull off.  I have since developed six different styles that all can be put on in seconds – no fiddly tying of headscarves!  If you are post operative and are having trouble lifting your arms up to your head you can leave one of my scarves tied and simply pull it on the next day.  I have found that creating the illusion of height & volume is the key to making people look good.  A flat “Tilly” bandanna style can look amazing on some people but the way I have designed the “Alice” easy tie headscarf in 3 panels means that it can be worn puffed up a little like a hat to create the illusion of height whilst looking like a headscarf – it is very flattering on every face shape.  I believe it is the ultimate easy-tie headscarf & it has definitely become my most popular style.  Many people feel more comfortable with the idea of a little jersey pull on hat rather than a headscarf/bandanna look and I have designed 4 styles to accommodate that.  Personally, I love the “Olive” with the gathering which again creates volume around the face, in fact as a Macmillan nurse pointed out this week the marl brown version could almost look like brown hair in a crop cut from a distance.  I am also very pleased with the invention of my “Kitty” sleep cap which can be worn folded back as a sleep cap or unfolded and gently gathered as a great little hat for the daytime – taking you from pyjamas to jeans in seconds, this has now turned into one of my best sellers as it is just so comfy & easy. I have recently designed “Evie” a special occasion chemo hat made from rich luxurious sequin & silk fabrics. All of the styles are secure & comfortable and fit low at the nape of the neck and are not to heavy so that they can be worn comfortably indoors without feeling uncomfortable or looking out of place.

[ps_featured_products title=”Some of my favourite designs” autoscroll=”1″ items=”4″ orderby=”date” order=”desc” maxitems=”4″ itemsdesktop=”4″ itemsdesktopsmall=”3″ itemsmobile=”1″]