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These Designers Make Ugly Hospital Gowns Look Cool To Give Sick Children A Chance To Be Themselves

Nobody likes wearing hospital gowns, but for most of us it’s a pretty temporary arrangement. For some unlucky kids however, hospital gowns are a permanent fixture in their wardrobe, but thanks to a project called Ward+Robes, boring and ugly hospital clothes might soon be a thing of the past.

Several fashion designers have teamed up with a nonprofit organization called Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada to redesign hospital gowns in order to give sick kids “a chance to be themselves”. “wearing a hospital gown is like being in a hospital,” explains one girl in the video below. “There’s nothing good about it.” Another young patient reveals that “It sort of makes me feel like my identify’s been stripped away from me.”

The Ward+Robes project has just launched in a hospital in Ontario, and they hope to role out their stylish new gowns to other hospitals across the country and perhaps even to other countries. And judging by how happy these kids look, these robes can’t go worldwide soon enough. You can donate to the project here.

More info: Ward+Robes | Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada

Ward+Robes is giving sick kids “a chance to be themselves” by turning their ugly hospital gowns into cool clothes

fashionable-hospital-gowns-starlight-children-foundation-canada-31

“Wearing a hospital gown is like being in a hospital,” explains one girl. “There’s nothing good about it”

fashionable-hospital-gowns-starlight-children-foundation-canada-41

“When you can’t wear what you want, you feel like you’re not who you should be, or you’re just your illness,” says another

fashionable-hospital-gowns-starlight-children-foundation-canada-47

The project is designed to give the kids more self-confidence

fashionable-hospital-gowns-starlight-children-foundation-canada-38

fashionable-hospital-gowns-starlight-children-foundation-canada-42

And as you can see, they look pretty pleased with the result!

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“When I first saw the gowns I saw empowerment in teenagers in a place where they don’t have any,” said one of the happy kids

fashionable-hospital-gowns-starlight-children-foundation-canada-33

They come in a variety of cool designs that the kids seem to love

fashionable-hospital-gowns-starlight-children-foundation-canada-35

fashionable-hospital-gowns-starlight-children-foundation-canada-39

Ward+Robes is a collaboration between Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada and local designers

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They’ve just launched their awesome gowns in a hospital in Ontario and they’re in talks with another 130 hospitals across Canada

fashionable-hospital-gowns-starlight-children-foundation-canada-45

Eventually they hope to roll out their gowns in different countries across the world

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Watch the video below for more info:

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What do you think ?

POST

Adalmina 8 years ago

This is a nice idea, though how I have understood it, hospital gowns are so plain and ugly for reason that they need to able to be washed at hot temperature and if needed, with chloride or something similar, because of hygienity reasons. Can these clothes take it/have they been build from proper materials for this kind of treatment? If so, great idea!

12points

Yvonne Bernal 8 years ago

Hospital gowns are purchased (and cleaned) in MAJOR bulk. So to purchase "designer gowns" may sound good and fun, but in reality, it's not cost effective. I have to wonder just who is paying for these gowns. If it's the patient, then I think it's an excellent idea. If it's the hospital, then be prepared to see it reflect in your final bill. (I know, I work in a major cancer hospital)

7points

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Vancea Louisa 8 years ago

There are some tehniques they can use to be able to take that kind of treatment, as well as some dyes that have no problem whatsoever with different chemical substances. As for the risk of inffecting patients, there is none. Once the gowns have been sterilized, they can be worn without any worries. As for the possible blood stains (I've seen people mentioning that), they can simply make them a lighter colour, or the kids can just tell the nurses/doctors about the issue, since they are not old people who sleep a lot, and most kids, even those who have cancer, have quite a lot of energy. Textile design graduate here :D

1point

Helen Phillips 8 years ago

Exactly what I was thinking. However hopefully images could be printed on and still survive sterile laundering?

1point

Lara Iloiu 8 years ago

Also, they are a light color so you can easily spot any sign of blood on them. Therefore, I am totally against the black or very colorful ones. Doctors/nurses might miss that a wound has reopened and this might get dangerous.

0points

Cesi Baca 8 years ago

Yeah was kind of thinking the same thing.....The material has to be able to withstand sterilization. I doubt heavily dyed fabric would hold up very well.

0points

Hans 8 years ago

Clever...and, if you think about it, you wonder why no one invented this before...

5points

Jim Hubbard 8 years ago

Not sure about the skull for a sick kid....

2points

Lauren Richards-Evans 8 years ago

Children shouldn't be taught that death is frightening, because it isn't; how you die, maybe, but not the act of death itself, because once you're gone, you're gone. Besides, there's nothing frightening about skulls either, they're apart of what makes us, they carry our brains, they carry our eyes. They and our skeletons what remains of what came before us.

0points

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Adalmina 8 years ago

12points

Yvonne Bernal 8 years ago

7points

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Vancea Louisa 8 years ago

1point

Helen Phillips 8 years ago

Exactly what I was thinking. However hopefully images could be printed on and still survive sterile laundering?

1point

Lara Iloiu 8 years ago

0points

Cesi Baca 8 years ago

Yeah was kind of thinking the same thing.....The material has to be able to withstand sterilization. I doubt heavily dyed fabric would hold up very well.

0points

Hans 8 years ago

Clever...and, if you think about it, you wonder why no one invented this before...

5points

Jim Hubbard 8 years ago

Not sure about the skull for a sick kid....

2points

These Designers Make Ugly Hospital Gowns Look Cool To Give Sick Children A Chance To Be Themselves

Ward+Robes is giving sick kids “a chance to be themselves” by turning their ugly hospital gowns into cool clothes

“Wearing a hospital gown is like being in a hospital,” explains one girl. “There’s nothing good about it”

“When you can’t wear what you want, you feel like you’re not who you should be, or you’re just your illness,” says another

The project is designed to give the kids more self-confidence

And as you can see, they look pretty pleased with the result!

“When I first saw the gowns I saw empowerment in teenagers in a place where they don’t have any,” said one of the happy kids

They come in a variety of cool designs that the kids seem to love

Ward+Robes is a collaboration between Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada and local designers

They’ve just launched their awesome gowns in a hospital in Ontario and they’re in talks with another 130 hospitals across Canada

Eventually they hope to roll out their gowns in different countries across the world

Watch the video below for more info:

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