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Milliner Heads Right to the Source

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Milliner Heads Right to the Source

Written by Nicky Smetham

Friday, 25 April 2008

A growing number of women in the UK face the trauma and uncertainty of hair loss, whilst having to maintain the normality of everyday life – the office, school, the gym. Suburban Turban, a leading online retailer of fashion headwear for women with hair loss, has launched the UK’s first national image survey, specifically aimed at women with hair loss and how they cope. The survey, developed in association with Alopecia UK and the American charity, Bald Girls Do Lunch Inc., has one simple aim: to gather as much information as possible about how these women are coping. Alopecia UK and Bald Girls Do Lunch, USA Join Image Project A growing number of women in the UK face the trauma and uncertainty of hair loss, whilst having to maintain the normality of everyday life – the office, school, the gym. Suburban Turban, a leading online retailer of fashion headwear for women with hair loss, has launched the UK’s first national image survey, specifically aimed at women with hair loss and how they cope. The survey, developed in association with Alopecia UK and the American charity, Bald Girls Do Lunch Inc., has one simple aim: to gather as much information as possible about how these women are coping. Nicky Smetham, Suburban Turban’s founder, says, “Women with any form of significant hair loss can very quickly feel isolated and alone with their condition. This survey aims to collect and share information about how women are managing with significant image change. Our goal is to develop products and services in response.” In a recent study of just over 2,000 women, a third had been to their GP with hair loss issues. This not only highlights the serious nature of the problem but also the lack of various information sources available to women. (‘Women’s hair loss at record high’ – Daily Telegraph 4.12.07) “With this taboo subject, there is little understanding of the social and psychological pressures women face and even less discussion about it in the fashion press. Hair loss isn’t about mere vanity for women, it is about trying to maintain a healthy attitude to body image, which is critical to the recovery process as well as coping with longer-term hair loss issues” adds Ms Smetham. Women experiencing hair loss can take part in the survey by visiting www.suburbanturban.co.uk/survey. Once they have completed the survey, they will automatically be entered into a prize draw of a colour consultation or an alternative prize of relevant headwear up to the value of £100.They will also be included in the results mail out, to be released later in the year. “This is valuable on several fronts.” according to Bald Girls Do Lunch founder, Thea Chassin, based just outside New York. “Not only will this direct us to the significant image issues, but each woman who participates will have taken time to think about her needs and realize that she’s not alone.”- -- ENDS -- For further information please contact Nicky Smetham | www.suburbanturban.co.uk | Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it | Tel: 0845 003 2 800

form.asp

Thea Chassin | www.baldgirlsdolunch.org. | Contact: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Notes to Editors

Suburban Turban provides:

Fashion accessories rather than ‘necessity’ headwear.
Unique and unusual headwear designed specifically with hair loss in mind/designers new to the UK.
Specialist advice from image consultant Liz Scott, to guide women to the right headwear choice for them.
A website that offers guidance and interesting articles on hair loss fashion concerns – keep an eye out for new accessories and information updates via the site.

* Statistical information quoted from ‘Women’s hair loss at ‘record high’….’, The Daily Telegraph, 4.12.07

About Suburban Turban & Nicky Smetham

Suburban Turban was founded by milliner Nicky Smetham. Nicky trained in millinery at Chelsea and London College of Fashion and has spent 10 years making hats for the Season - Ascot, Henley and Goodwood. In 2005 Nicky won 'Best Hat' at Lingfield Ladies Day and her hats have appeared in 'Hello!' magazine. The idea for Suburban Turban was formed at a GRACE (Gynae-oncology Research and Clinical Excellence - see link) charity fashion show last year, where several ladies were discussing the real need for fashionable product for women experiencing hair loss. Most women feel the need to cover their hair loss, either with a wig or some form of headwear, this maybe viewed as a necessity but our view is that the hat should reflect the woman not the condition. Significant hair loss hasn’t been exclusive male territory for some time. Awareness and understanding for the female equivalent and other hair loss conditions is growing all the time. Suburban Turban launched its range of fashion headwear specifically targeted at women with significant hair loss at the end of last year. The business has been well received with clients appreciating the fashion bias and choice available. Clients can log on to the site, scan the range or simply access some practical and highly useful free styling tips to guide them through their new hair loss image. http://www.suburbanturban.co.uk About Bald Girls Do Lunch Inc and Thea Chassin, founder and president Bald Girls Do Lunch Inc is the first US non-profit charity created specifically to help women who suffer from the auto-immune disease, alopecia areata. The organization holds lunch meetings and events in cities across the USA to enhance their self-esteem, manage the cosmetic aspects of female baldness, and increase their capacity to manage effectively all aspects of their lives with alopecia. Bald Girls Do Lunch, Inc., P O Box 9122, Scarborough, NY 10510www.baldgirlsdolunch.org. Alopecia UK Alopecia UK (www.alopeciaonline.org.uk) provides information, advice and support to children and adults dealing with alopecia – partial or complete loss of head hair, eye-lashes, eyebrows and body hair. A challenging condition, the dramatic appearance change can result in psychological trauma, lost confidence and low self esteem. The body is less able to control temperature, dirt and perspiration get into unprotected eyes, the eye lids can ‘turn in’ and hairless skin burns readily in the sun. This unpredictable condition has no cure and no treatment guaranteed to induce hair re-growth or sustain remission. Since inception in 2005 Alopecia UK has been run by a small number of volunteers, it hosts a website of information which receives over 70,000 visitors a month and which is the NHS Electronic Resource for alopecia. There are 13 national support groups. A membership scheme provides the latest information on the condition, and gives discounts on wigs and other products. The website has Discussion Forums with over 2,800 members, a Suppliers Directory allowing searches for useful products, an ‘Ask An Expert’ feature, and gives telephone and email support. An Advisory Panel of volunteer experts offers professional advice, and it funds psychological research. It has recently launched a new website ‘HeadzUp’ dedicated to children and young people, their parents and teachers, which includes a safe discussion forum. Alopecia UK, 5 Titchwell Road, London SW18 3LWwww.alopeciaonline.org.ukwww.headzup.org.uktel: +44 (0)20 8333 1661Registered Charity No.1111304

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Ruth Bowdage | www.alopeciaonline.org.uk/ | Contact: www.alopeciaonline.org.uk/contact/form.asp

Notes to Editors

About Suburban Turban & Nicky Smetham

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