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Click here to view the Just In Time collection.
About me and how I came to design hats for women with hair loss.
In 1985 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My hair loss from chemotherapy
was devastating. Concealing it became a preoccupation. First I tried a wig,
but I found it physically and psychologically uncomfortable.
I felt I was pretending to have hair when in fact I did not. As a result,
whenever I went out in public with my wig on, I was self-conscious,
always looking for my reflection to assure me that I looked OK with this
foreign thing on my head. And, because I found the wig hot and scratchy,
the wig and I went our separate ways.
But many women find wigs a perfectly fine alternative. I don't think
there is any "right" or "wrong" way to conceal hair loss. Rather,
it's just a matter of understanding what works best for each of us
individually and doing what is most comfortable. Wearing a wig is a
very personal choice, and my choice was not to wear it.
Since wigs were not going to be an option for me, the problem became
finding the right product for a cancer patient in chemotherapy. The turbans I saw fit like bathing caps.
Department store hats were sized for women with hair and too big on my
hairless head, not to mention that they didn't even cover the hair line
(or what once was a hair line). I wore a scarf, but with no hair
underneath felt I looked like, I'll be frank, a pinhead. Other head covers
I saw were poorly made, badly designed, and too often made of synthetic
fabrics.
I decided I couldn't be the only woman in chemotherapy who was looking
for better products for cancer patients and who didn't like the
chemo hats and cancer turbans I saw.
With a Masters Degree in social work, I'm trained to approach
problems with an eye toward a solution.
Knowing how to sew, I embarked on a process of drawing my own
patterns and sewing samples.
Through trial-and-error (lots of error), I eventunally created
the kind of soft hats I wanted but could not find. These quality
cancer hats were what I felt the market was lacking.
My designs are comfortable and flattering, making them not only a
pleasure to wear, but they appear to be worn by choice, not necessity.
Which means in public one does not look like a cancer patient in
chemotherapy, wearing a hat to conceal her hair loss.
I take pride in the special qualities my soft hats offer:
Very Comfortable. My hats are designed so there are no tight pressure
points on the head. The soft cotton knits I use have a natural “give” that
makes them comfortable enough to be worn all day.
Designed specifically for women with hair loss.
All my hats securely cover the hair line, are sized for a head with
little or no hair, and are washable. My hats and turbans are made with
darts, folds, tucks, pleats gathering and/or draping. These design
details provide the body and fullness to make a hat flattering when there
is little or no hair underneath.
100% Cotton Fabric. My hats are all made from the best quality, soft to the
touch, washable 100% cotton. No blend or synthetic can offer the same look
or comfort. This natural fiber helps keep hats from feeling “too hot” or a
head “too cold”.
Versatile styles. My “go anywhere” designs combine easily with any
wardrobe and look appropriate at home, at work, or going out to eat. During
hair loss, a hat becomes an essential piece of clothing, not an optional
accessory, so it must look good in many settings.
Well Made. Made in the U.S.A. by skilled seamstresses, my soft hats are
sewn with great care to detail; seams are top stitched and raw edges finished.
A well-constructed hat can take lots of washing and wearing and still look
good, an important feature when a hat is worn so much.
Quick delivery. My hats are sent out by first class mail within 24 hours
of receiving your order, except for weekend orders, which go out on Mondays.
Just In Time has been featured in the following publications:
- L.A. Times "She's Feeling Fine, Thanks"
- Philadelphia Daily News "After Breast Cancer Treatment"
- Philadelphia Jewish Exponent "Life Affirming Apparel"
- San Jose Mercury News "Cancer Patients Tip Their Caps to Verley Platt"
- Philadelphia Inquirer "A Cancer Survivor Produces Hats That Give Boost to Others"
- Coping Magazine "Turning Cancer Into Triumph"
Just In Time is recommended as a resource in the following publications:
- "Ask Anne & Nan" Nationally Syndicated Column
- Hope is Contagious The Breast Cancer Treatment Survival Handbook Book by Margit Porter
- Beauty & Cancer Book by Noyes & Mellody, A.C. Press
- Self Magazine "Looking Good" article
- A Helping Hand The Resource Guide for People with Cancer - Published by CancerCare
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