Mastectomy Caregiver

DESIGN: Pauline Agustoni

Germany

make me! 2022

“Mastectomy Caregiver” is the creation of adapted knitwear for women who have experienced a mastectomy during their breast cancer treatment.

Mastectomy is the removal operation of the breast(s) that can take place in the case of breast cancer. It is sometimes followed by the reconstruction of the breasts with tissues of other parts of the body. It is a heavy operation that leads to painful scars located at the breasts, the belly and the arm junction.

The sweater acts as a protective shell during the woman’s recovery phase, using the industrial knitting technique to create volume around the bust and the arm areas. It takes into account the patient’s needs after the operation: it is easy to put on with one arm, it allows enough space for a transfusion to go through the sleeve, it is friendly to sensitive skin and it leads the gaze of others towards the face instead of the bust.

A software model was specifically programmed to knit the sweaters. It combines tight and loose stitches in order to create volume. The sweater’s pieces are also knit directly in shape, hence avoiding any yarn waste.

The sweaters are completely produced in The Netherlands by the company Knitwear Lab in Almere. The material is a high quality lamb’s wool yarn from Italy which has been specifically selected for its softness and friendliness to sensitive skin.