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A REAL Sweatshirt for PICC patients

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What is this campaign about? 
Imagine you are freezing cold, so your natural instinct is to put some clothes on! You grab a sweatshirt and you pull the neck of the sweatshirt over your head, thread one arm through one sleeve and are ready to put your other arm through the opposite sleeve. Then you realize, you have 2 tubes dangling from an IV attached to your upper arm. As you run your hand along the tubes, you see they are tethered to a machine pump. You look at the sleeve and wonder if you can still thread your arm through it with the tubes. You carefully insert your hand through the sleeve and as you slowly pull down the sleeve your tubes are beginning to get in the way. You think to yourself, does this matter? The moment the tubes are tucked inside the sleeve, an alarm rings from the machine pump. You immediately pull your arm out and can no longer wear the sweatshirt the way you normally would. You only can get one arm through the sweatshirt. 

I want to alleviate this problem and I want you to be able to wear a sweatshirt even when you are tethered to a machine pump. This is what I need your help with. I need you to help me launch the LooopClothing Sweatshirt.

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Pull on and off sweatshirt while tethered to the pump for more information please visit Amateur Design Video 


Modified openings with secure fasteners for 1 hand use


Stylish concealed opening for additional medical access

My Design Story:
Imagine you have a medical apparatus called PICC line - two infusion tube connectors, protruding out of your upper right arm. You are told this apparatus will stay in you for 8 months until your treatment is finished. You are to shield it from germs, water to avoid bacterial infestation because you have a compromised immune system. Your coping mechanism is to embrace these tube connectors and solider on.

I went through those eight months because I was diagnosed with an aggressive Lymphoma that required equally aggressive chemo treatments. I endured 10 rounds of hospitalized chemo treatments and with each round I spiraled down the side-effects rabbit-hole of hair loss, loss of appetite, a compromised immune system, physical fatigue and frailness. My number one nemesis was "body-chill" during hospitalization because I didn’t have warm clothing, only blankets. I desperately wanted to wear clothes that made me feel good, normal and comfortable. Instead, I wore blankets and scarves, because most clothes are not designed for a PICC line. Only sleeveless clothing accommodated my PICC, which tethered me to an infusion pump. Other sleeveless clothing (such as ponchos) provided an outer layer but did not provide necessary warmth. After two rounds of hospitalized infusion, I dreamed of warm, fuzzy sweatshirt with long sleeves and a high neckline that would accommodate my infusion tubes.

My desperation drove me to take action. Not knowing how to sew, I relied on my curiosity and creativity. I took old clothes apart. I studied their structures, fabric and techniques. I came up with a sweatshirt design mockup that would allow me to pull it on and off, just like I would with a normal top, while tethered to an infusion pump. I hand sewed my first prototype and I tested it on myself. I wore it to rounds of treatment and amassed both nurses and fellow cancer fighters’ approval and accolades. Many said my sweatshirt design would fulfill a real need amongst cancer patients, providing warm clothing for both emotional and physical balance. 

We can all agree that clothing is a necessity. Clothing makes us feel decent, provides identity and protects us. Clothing is modern-day armor that strengthens the wearer; it is momentous, ratifying the wearer. In other word, clothing is a basic universal need. If you go to a ball, you wear a beautiful gown or a tuxedo. If you are a cancer patient, you want to wear something that feels normal. Unfortunately, continuous infusion cancer clothing isn’t available - until now. You can help me make this a reality for all cancer patients.

Today, I have reached a major milestone. I am in the clear, two years in a row, and it signals that my health is on track. This is my opportunity to pay it forward but I cannot do it alone. I need your help. I have already exhausted my resources and I cannot launch this much-needed sweatshirt without your participation and generosity. No matter how small the amount, I am eternally grateful for your help. If you have the heart to help, please spread the word and let others know what we are doing here. (We = You and I) 

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My Goal:
I need to raise a total of USD30,000 as my startup cost. Here is a simple breakdown of how the money will be used. 
Phase 1 :  USD 25,000: 
1) 300 pieces of Sweatshirt (material & trim + production cost) 
2) Marketing (packaging, professional photography & product  video, SEO)
3) Adminstrative (licenses, webpage, logistic and legal)

All fabrics  are sourced in USA, some trims are sourced outside of USA. Sweatshirt is locally manufactured.
Aim: Delivery estimate in 6 months from campaign launch.

Phase 2:  USD 5,000 
Promotion and Trade-shows 
Aim: attend at least 1-2 trade shows by end of the year

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To ensure Looopclothing represents a beacon of hope, my goal is to donate 25% of sales profit to Children  Cancer Research.

If you have stories, suggestions or comments that you wish to share, please leave me a message at http://www.looopclothing.com/FAQ 

If you want to find out more about my sweatshirt design and my experiences with cancer treatments. Please visit my website  https://www.looopclothing.com

Organizer

Alice Tong
Organizer
Kenmore, WA

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