New fashion brand launched – inspired by York woman who died aged only 24

A new fashion brand has been launched – inspired by the experiences of a woman from York who died of a brain tumour.

Emily Rhodes lost her battle for life in April 2019. She was only  24, 

Her mum says that she witnessed how difficult it was for Emily to receive treatments while wearing normal everyday clothing.

So together with her friend Claire Myles Wharton, Joanne Nicholson created Warpaint and the big launch was at the Cosy Club on Fossgate in York last night (Sunday). 

YorkMix was there.

After losing her daughter, Joanne says she wanted to focus her life on doing something to help other people needing procedures and treatments, such as chemotherapy, stoma bags and tracheostomies.

There was nothing on the market that people could wear, when they were having treatments or check-ups, which would help retain their self confidence.  

“Emily went through so much hurt from situations that could have been avoided,” Joanne told YorkMix Radio.

“She would go for a treatment and would immediately be told to remove her top which would make her feel all control was being taken away.

“She really struggled with the way she looked, the weight gain and weight loss. She was a model when she lived in Australia and It really affected the way she felt about herself.”

Joanne added: “People didn’t seem to recognise her as the person she was, they just pitied her and she hated it. It (medical treatments) stripped her of who she was.”

So what are the clothes sold on Warpaint’s website like and how do they help?

Claire Myles Wharton explained. “It’s ‘Fashion for the Fight’, for the ‘Warrior Within’. “So basically it’s a range of clothing, for you if you are going through treatments.

“I’m being treated for breast cancer at the moment and I have to go every three weeks and have injections into the thigh.

“So we created trousers where you don’t have to get undressed and dressed in front of the nurses. So basically we just unzip the zip in the seam and have my injection and then I go on my way.

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“And it’s not just for cancer, We have a friend going through dialysis who’s always cold, we’ve created a jumper for her what she can wear while she’s having a treatment and still enables access into the areas where the nurses and the medical staff need to be.

“Most of our clothes are made with plastics zips so they can go into the MRI scanner too.

“There’s lots in store for the future this is only just the beginning.”

Check out the Warpaint website.

• Pouch at the front opens so you can access stoma bags, peg feeds and drains
• Zips on the neck are for central lines, pacemaker checks, ECGs, breast checks.
• The snood is detachable and can be used to keep warm when having chemo 
• Drawstring to let out when weight is gained or lost.
• An internal tourniquet in the arms, which will help the NHS as it won’t have to use a throwaway one. 

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