#headbandsforgood

It's been quite a while since I've posted update of the progress I have made. I guess I have been in a whirlwind of fabric, sequins, buttons, thread, and joy! 

This past month I was asked to present my updated thesis work to not only my fellow classmates, but also many of my professors. On the surface I was calm and collected, but underneath I was a nervous wreak. Everything went extremely well, and after all was said and done, I felt even more empowered to further my progress and forge ahead!

Here is the proposal I presented:

For my senior thesis I intend to design, construct, and market a line of headband-making kits for young, tween girls (ages 8+) that are undergoing cancer treatment. These kits will encourage young girls to gain a sense of empowerment and pride from designing and constructing something they can wear. These young girls must endure intense rounds of chemotherapy, resulting in the loss of their hair; often making them feel less beautiful. It is in every girl’s nature to accessorize, so why not create a product that allows cancer patients the ability to adorn their heads with a cute and fashionable accessory they can make themselves, thus making them feel strong and beautiful again? Also, these patients spend a great deal of time in the hospital during their treatments and this kit would keep their mind away from the otherwise scary thought of chemotherapy. My intent is that these would be seen as “preparation kits” before these girls begin loosing their hair. Each headband base will be constructed of a durable cotton fabric which I will personally sew by hand. The headband base will include my branding in the form of either a small sewn-in tag or embroidered logo. Accompanying every headband will be a variety of different materials, including felt (to create either leaves, flowers, or feathers), templates for cutting out felt, rhinestones, sequins, thread, a needle, glue, buttons, instructions, and circular fabric cutouts for the back of their created additions. Using these materials, girls can create felt additions that can then be added to embellish and personalize the headband. Finally, I will design the accompanying informational print product and packaging that will go with the headbands. I plan on creating my own website to tell the story behind these kits and provide a means of selling my work. My hope is to be able to reach a broader market with the use of an online store. I would also like to somehow distribute these kits to young girls with cancer by informing doctors and nurses of a children’s hospital of my project and then they spread the word through word-of-mouth.