When my youngest daughter was just 7 months old I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Advanced breast cancer.
I was feeding Lotte when I found the lump and just felt it was something I should get checked out. So, luckily I did. The following year that ensued was a roller coaster of hospital visits, surgery, pain, sickness and of course emotions.
During my chemotherapy treatment I lost all my hair and was bloated from the steroids; I felt cold and I looked pretty ill and needed to cover up for my family, but I struggled to find anything suitable to wear. I found myself wishing I had a hat as comfortable as my baby’s, yet something stylish for a younger woman going through cancer. I felt especially cold at nighttime. I wore woollen hats mostly but they would be too hot and itchy and scarves would slip and they were hard to tie, so nothing was ideal. The idea for Bold Beanies was born.
Nearly a year after I finished all my treatments, I decided to start making Bold Beanies for fellow sufferers, to help make a difficult time just a bit more bearable. I found a local seamstress to help me make a pattern and she ran me up 100 hats to get me started. The natural and stretchy fabric was so soft and fitted snuggly onto the head. They have minimal seams and I had labels made purposely to go on the outside of the beanie to make it as comfortable a hat as possible. The first run of beanies sold and it confirmed that people were searching for this type of hat.
A few years later and I’m happy to say that like me, the business is going from strength to strength. I’m very proud that my Bold Beanies are still manufactured locally and use fabrics sourced in the UK – a truly British product. Customers love the natural breathable fabrics, especially the beautiful Liberty Art Fabrics and remark on the sheer sense of relief they provide, not to mention getting a good nights sleep!
The range has grown to include men’s Bold Beanies as well as for kids. I am so excited to be a part of the range at Live Better With, who, like me, want to make your cancer journey as easy as possible.
Emilienne x
Thanks to Emilienne for writing this post for us! Browse the full range of Bold Beanies for women and men here