April 10, 2013 | Health and Well-Being
Beauty and the Breast Cancer Survivor
A chic new clothing line for post-op and ever-after.
The night before Laurel Kamen went into the hospital for a double mastectomy back in September, 2011, she had other things besides breast cancer on her mind. She was, remarkably, thinking about what she would wear right after surgery, and during recovery, and in the months and years following.
Kamen didn't like what was available: mostly fleece and sweatshirts. So that very evening, she came up with the idea to start a line of stylish clothing to meet the unique needs of women who have undergone radiation, chemotherapy and surgery for breast cancer.
So was born The Alloro Collection, which offers beautiful, elegant designs that address breast cancer survivors’ concerns. One of the pieces, for instance, is a chic bolero with hidden inside pockets for post-op drains during recovery; there are also cute, no-chafe camisoles and tunics, and shirts with wide dolman sleeves that allow women to put them on and take them off with ease.
Restoring a woman's confidence after such drastic surgery is an important step in helping her feel like her best self. That upbeat theme is evident in the collection's tag line, "Recapture the Joy."
Kamen and Alloro co-founder Christine Irvin have tapped into a huge market. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer diagnosed in women this year.
But Alloro is also giving back; 25 percent of all profits from sales go to support breast cancer research and underserved women.
The collection is sold at invitation-only trunk shows in cities with major breast cancer treatment facilities or at the company website. The shows are more than just sales parties; they are also places for women to meet, support each other and exchange information. The first trunk show was held in D.C.; the second will be in New York City on April 17.