by DYS — Tuesday, October 6th, 2009 at 8:00 am
in Apparel, Designer, Fit N Fab and tagged with Breast Cancer Awareness, Chikara, Du Jour
October is the breast cancer awareness month. Instead of looking on how every labels, designers and their stores are doing their own “pink euphoria”, let’s take a look on what’s available in terms of fashion for breast cancer survivors.
Besides ovarian cancer, breast cancer remains the most common cancer among women. Breast cancer death rates are reported to decline significantly since 1990, although the number of breast cancer survivors is growing. Not all survivors, who have undergone mastectomy (the surgical removal of one or both breasts, partially or completely), want, could have nor could afford reconstructive breast surgery. In the past, the only clothing, especially undergarments available for women who had lost their breasts, were the medical bras that most hospitals sell in the US.
HIGHLIGHTS: Hillary Boyajian, a New York based fashion and product designer graduated from Parsons, New York and Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, London, created Chikara, a fashion line for women with one or no breasts, and those who are experiencing breast asymmetry following a single or multiple mastectomy, lumpectomy, radiation therapy and reconstructive surgeries.
ABOUT THE LINE: Chikara, which means strength, power and energy in Japanese, offers Greek-inspired clothing, which are draped across the chest and cover up the chest in such beautiful way, that compliment left, right, and bilateral breast treatments. Some of their flirty tops and dresses are definitely wearable for every women. Chikara also offers alternative lingerie to medical bras, swimwear, activewear, and loungewear.
HOW IT FISRT STARTED: Boyajian first began designing post-mastectomy clothing while working on her thesis at Parsons. In her research, she discovered that many women who have received mastectomies are not candidates for immediate reconstructive surgery, or decide to move ahead without any breast reconstruction. She also discovered that wearing prosthetics could easily shift and uncomfortable due to its unavoidable asymmetry, and there are also those who simply do not like to wear prosthetic breast(s). Seeing this, Boyajian wanted to cater to these brave women and help them to empower their confidence by creating a fashion-forward line that balances the the body post breast cancer treatments and surgeries.
It is good to know that this option exist, and we hope there would be more upcoming designers who are thinking out of the box. Learn more about this line, here. And see some of Chikara collection below.
Sources and images courtesy of: Chikaradesign.com, Metro New York, wikipedia, cancer.org
Blog: Label ‘du jour’: CHIKARA for Breast Cancer Survivors http://bit.ly/S1S5k
i really love the idea behind this line and it’s such a practical concept. the drapings and embellishments are gorgeous – i love the ones with the braids/plaits over the shoulder.. pretty!
What a nice break from all-pink month of October in the US.
Dan sangat berguna pula secara langsung buat penderita kanker payudara. Mana cakep model bajunya.
Thanks for a nice, nice blog, Dhys, sangat impormatip!
And thanks for the nice weekend too, darling!
what a beautiful concept! and i love how the dresses look too.. gorgeous!
she is one designer who thinks beyond symbolic act. she gives a real meaning to the breast cancer awareness month, by giving survivors the opportunity to feel better about themselves in term of fashion.
thanks for sharing, DYS.
Agree, great article, DYS!
Kebetulan tadi malem jalan2 ke youtube nya RiceBunny, ada link ke tutorial makeup buat cancer survivors, done by somone who has cancer herself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggb-8fm9BVU&feature=channel_page
Setelah gw perhatikan ternyata ada beberapa model yg bs dipake sm yg risih dengan oversize ( . ) ( . ) *sambil lirik diri sendiri* . Bagus2 banged modelnya.
woww.. sangat mengharukan. really touchy! nice break from those pink-y pink-y attribute.
it is so touchy sampe inget my beloved grandma.. *please Allah to let her stays in heaven
she was suffered breast cancer once..
but, baju2nya cantek2 ya *drooling..
JULE – Gw gak percaya lo risih! Hahaha..
Elo dan IJOLI, tuh.
bajunya cakep ih….
There should be more designers like her. The collection is beautiful and even more so because we know what and whom this is intended for! Thanks Dhys for bringing it to our attention!
Salut ama idenya, keren2 pula koleksinya :twothumup: Julejen, idem kyknya cucok buat heavy top kyk kita2……….;)
morgan: i agree w/ u.. the ones with braid and pleats are really gorgeous
byk niy ya anak2 FD yg beraset besar lol 
but yess it is a nice break for all the pink “fanfare” in october
lucky galss =)
dundan : hehe sama2x thx uda mampir ke nyc jg, ga kapok kan.. kalo ksini lg jgn sungkan2 hub eke.. ke spa castleee yukss rame2 hehe
slesta, purplerebel, affi : yess yess, there should be more designers like her.. with a moral mission behind it.. sayang masi jarang yah!
Lena: thankss for the link..it’s useful !
julejen & dundan: hehe ternyata bisa dipake jg ya buat yg asetnya besar
kyriaa: im so sorry for your loss.. u must miss your granny
vanya : baguss ya.. bisa bgt dipake sama semua cw2x
jenna: wahh km jg beraset besar yah hehe