Becky

In September 2019, I was diagnosed with invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC). I was taking a shower and felt a small lump on my left side. Nervous about it, I called my physician. They told me to come right in. At that appointment, I was scheduled for a mammogram the next day. Then a biopsy. I remember thinking at the biopsy, wow everyone is so nice here. One nurse even hugged me. Now I know it's usually bad news when the nurses are incredibly nice to you! I found out I had breast cancer from my primary care physician on September 10th. I had plans for a weekend away to celebrate my husband‘s 60th birthday the next day and I actually considered not telling him so it wouldn’t spoil the trip. Of course, I did share the news, and the weekend with my family was the perfect distraction from all that was to come. When we returned, I went to the Breast and Cancer Care Center in Scarborough, Maine and met my surgeon. She recommended  DNA testing and it turned out I had a mutated PALB2 gene. With that knowledge, my surgeon recommended a bilateral mastectomy. She was great and filled me in on all my options, pointing me to a website called Flat and Fabulous. For me, the quickest, fastest way was what I wanted. Get the cancer out and be done with it. Luckily, I did not need chemo or radiation and I opted for an aesthetic flat closure.

Though a big adjustment, I felt good about my decision. The hardest part came in the summer of 2020 when I was trying on the summer dresses I had always loved, and nothing fit anymore. I started searching for clothes for women who have an aesthetic flat closure and was stunned to find that there was nothing! A woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every fourteen seconds. One in eight women. One in six of those women choose to have a double mastectomy with up to 50% choosing to stay flat. Bluntly, women’s clothes are not designed for women without breasts. I decided then that if there was not a clothing company that fit women’s new bodies, I needed to start one.

Having an independent fashion label was my dream job. I blissfully launched into designing new collections every spring & fall, fittings, photo shoots, lookbooks, and trade shows, all at a New York mile-a-minute pace. It was everything I thought I wanted—but after a while, I couldn’t deny that being part of the fast-paced fashion cycle left me missing a larger sense of contributing to something important.

And then - Covid. 

It was the pause button I didn’t know I needed, and a chance to rethink my dream. By the summer of 2021, I was ready for change. I moved to Maine with my family; we bought a wonderful 170 year old house and YouTubed our way through major renovations. Fast forward another year and the lovely agent Becky that helped us find our home, asked me to coffee. Just like that - life opened an unexpected door. My friend Becky had a meaningful project and she needed a designer.

FlatWear Clothing

Our mission at FlatWear is two-fold. We work to make clever designs that fit and flatter the aesthetically flat form, and we want to provide an uncompromised shopping experience for aesthetically flat women.

Our designs use innovative pattern making to address the unique clothing concerns of flat women: scarring, sensitivity, and asymmetry. We’ll be adding designs to accommodate lymphedema and for women who wish to wear bust inserts as well.

When shopping at FlatWear Clothing, you can feel confident that every garment is intended for you. The specific ‘flat features’ will be called out for each design, and we will provide detailed information about every top and dress in its unique garment bio.

Through FlatWear we hope to be part of the support system for women who have chosen aesthetic flat closure, and for women struggling with this decision now. We would like to be a positive part of the flat community and create clothing that makes you feel beautiful for years to come. 

The more we grow, the more we’ll give.

FlatWear Clothing will donate a portion of profits to an organization in support of the flat community.